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Board approves Larkin Street quick‑build to cut collisions in Tenderloin
Summary
The SFMTA board approved a quick‑build redesign of Larkin Street (Market to Sutter) that reduces through lanes in one segment, adds protected left turns at key intersections, lengthens bus stops and reconfigures curb uses to improve pedestrian safety in the Tenderloin.
The SFMTA board voted unanimously to approve the Larkin Street quick‑build project, a package of traffic and parking changes intended to reduce collisions on a high‑injury corridor in the Tenderloin.
Project staff told the board that Larkin between Market and Sutter recorded 150 reported collisions in the prior five years, 41% involving pedestrians, including two fatalities. The quick build spans 11 blocks and proposes a lane reduction from three to two northbound lanes between Geary and Sutter (where Muni does not operate), dedicated left‑turn only lanes at Turk, Eddy and Geary in coordination with upcoming signal upgrades, painted pedestrian safety zones, turn safety treatments, extension of five bus stops to standard curb lengths (80 feet for near side/100 feet for far side), new loading spaces and 11 new accessible (blue) zones on Larkin and adjacent side streets.
Elizabeth Chen, SFMTA transportation engineer, and Paul Stanis, acting pedestrian program manager, presented outreach and design work. Chen said the team conducted door‑to‑door outreach and translated materials into multiple languages. Stanis described the Tenderloin as fully on the city's Vision Zero high‑injury network and noted prior neighborhood actions including a 20 mph speed limit and no‑turn‑on‑red restrictions.
Walk San Francisco and neighborhood groups testified in support during public comment. Director Hinsley (board member) moved to approve the project; a second was recorded and the motion passed on a roll call vote with all directors voting "aye." Staff said quick‑build implementation would begin in late 2025 following recently completed paving work to reduce construction impacts.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this article: Elizabeth Chen, Paul Stanis, Melina Mackey Kavada (Walk SF), Director Hinsley.
