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Fire commissioners press SFFD on slow‑streets and TASC process after response‑time variability
Summary
Commissioners pressed chiefs about whether slow‑street traffic calming (Page Street among others) is increasing emergency response times; Fire Marshal Ken Coughlin and Chief Janine Nicholson described TASC as an interagency, SFMTA‑chaired committee and said SFMTA has extended pilot measures through year‑end while agencies monitor response times.
Commissioner Ken Cleveland asked the Fire Commission whether the department has a formal position on slow‑street measures such as Page Street and how those measures affect response times. Chief Janine Nicholson said the department is reviewing response‑time data across the city and has seen variability over the past three years. "I'm concerned about the response times," Nicholson said, and she described ongoing conversations with SFMTA, MTA and other policy makers.
Fire Marshal Ken Coughlin explained the Traffic Advisory Safety Committee (TASC) process: SFMTA posts agendas and minutes; multiple agencies including SFMTA, Public Works, Police, Planning, Fire and Golden Gate Transit participate; the group seeks consensus and can place projects on hold if agencies disagree. Coughlin said SFMTA has extended many slow‑street measures until the end of the year while agencies evaluate traffic counts and response‑time impacts and that the department can meet with SFMTA to request removal of measures that demonstrably harm response times.
Commissioners requested access to TASC agendas and minutes, and asked that the department monitor vehicle damage and maintenance trends potentially linked to speed cushions. ADC DeWitt said central shops have reported some broken leaf springs but that the department lacks enough data to link failures to speed cushions rather than age or potholes. Commissioner Cleveland urged the commission to obtain TASC materials and suggested the department's opinion will be significant in SFMTA’s decisions.
The commission did not adopt a formal policy at the meeting but directed staff to gather TASC documentation and continue monitoring response metrics so the commission can consider whether to weigh in.
