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Commission hears design and accessibility plans for Better Market Street project; advocates stress safety over preserving brick surfacing
Summary
Staff presented the Better Market Street concept, which emphasizes safety, accessibility and transit performance along Market Street. Disability, bicycle and pedestrian advocates supported sidewalk-level bike lane and accessible pavers; commissioners pressed for plan details on bikeway alignment and maintenance.
The Historic Preservation Commission received an informational presentation on Aug. 21 about the Better Market Street project, a multiagency effort to redesign Market Street from Stuart to Octavia Boulevard to improve safety, transit performance and accessibility.
Christina Olay of San Francisco Public Works described the project goals, outreach rounds and schedule for environmental review. The draft environmental impact report was published earlier in the year, and staff told the commission they expect certification and key approvals in October; construction procurement for the first phase (Market between Fifth and Eighth Streets) is scheduled for March 2020 with construction targeted for 2020–2022.
Nicole Bond, director of the Mayor’s Office on Disability, advocated for accessibility improvements that comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act: compliant curb ramps, detectable warnings, appropriate color contrast and paver textures that reduce vibration and pain for mobility-device users. Bond said many transit islands and current pavers do not meet state or federal accessibility requirements.
Public Works and design team presenters described a proposed cross-section with a 10-foot minimum pedestrian throughway, a 4–10 foot street-life/furniture zone, and an 8-foot sidewalk-level bikeway separated by a detectable delineation strip. The team reported a delineator study with over 60 participants and recommended a trapezoidal profile for separation.
During Q&A commissioners asked about maintenance of plantings, the visual clarity and meandering alignment of the bikeway, and collision breakdowns. Presenters said the corridor has a collision rate far above the state average and identified top intersections for cyclist and pedestrian injuries; they said some collisions have involved people with disabilities.
Speakers from advocacy groups urged the commission to prioritize safety and accessibility over preserving existing brick paving. Charles Deforge of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Brian Hogsman of Walk San Francisco said an asphalt bikeway would be more comfortable and quicker to implement and that protected, visible bicycle facilities are critical to preventing injuries and fatalities. Community working group members and disability advocates supported the project’s goals while requesting detailed plan views in future briefings.
Commissioners expressed support for key design elements but asked staff to return with clearer plan views showing where the bikeway shifts around fixed features (BART portals, loading zones and transit islands) and to continue coordination with historic preservation review where applicable (for example, the Path of Gold lighting and landmark features). No action was taken; the item was informational.
