OCII approves up to $526,000 to fund Sixth Street pedestrian safety work

The Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure on Feb. 3 approved a grant of up to $526,000 in tax-exempt bond proceeds to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to fund pedestrian-safety improvements along Sixth Street in the former South of Market redevelopment area.

Staff described the work as two primary efforts: intersection improvements (including modified signal phasing at Howard and Sixth to create dedicated pedestrian intervals or brief gaps of 3to 5 seconds to establish pedestrian space) and sidewalk improvements including removal or retrofit of uneven tree grates. Adam Gubser of SFMTA told commissioners that Sixth Street is among the city's highest pedestrian-injury corridors and that a seven-year review showed roughly a dozen crashes at each of several intersections, far above most locations in the city.

Chair Rosales recused herself from the item and temporarily turned the meeting over to Commissioner Bustos after saying her business has work with SFMTA. Commissioners pressed staff on pedestrian clearance times for wheelchairs and seniors; staff said the agency's timing standards use a baseline of 3 feet per second and that proposed treatments would meet or exceed those standards. The commission approved the measure by a 3-aye vote with one recusal. The measure is recorded as Resolution 2-2015.

The MTA must report back on use of the funds and ensure any unexpended bond proceeds are returned as required by tax-exempt bond rules. The approved work is intended to shorten crossing distances, slow turning speeds at intersections, and improve pedestrian visibility.