Traffic
Calming Meetings Result in Real Projects
The second of three community traffic calming meetings sponsored by Supervisor Bevan Dufty, held March 22, focused on several short term projects that address traffic and pedestrian safety at a few specific intersections. Some of the projects would add more visible signage and revise signal timings at key Market Street intersections, turn Hattie Street in Upper Market into a one way street, and install stop signs at 14th and Buena Vista.
A controversial proposal was to install a traffic light at 19th and Castro. This crossing has confounded pedestrians and drivers for years, so the idea was initially welcomed. Further discussion revealed some problems with the idea, especially that it would allow many cars coming down Castro Street hill to enter the most congested part of Castro without stopping. A Dept. of Parking and Traffic study revealed that only three accidents in five years could be attributed to the lack of a traffic light there. A better solution would provide curb bulbs to shorten the crossing and improve visibility for pedestrians.
One welcome change, if modest, was changing the timing of the “Walk” signal at 17th Street east of Castro, so that the “Walk” cycle continues through Market Street’s left turn only cycle, when no cars can enter 17th Street anyway. This allows more time to cross and will reduce jaywalking.
While short term improvements were discussed at the meeting, no long range plans were revealed or discussed. CAPA members in attendance suggested that curb bulbs and other traffic slowing measures would be more successful, and would help to improve the pedestrian environment and streetscape as well as safety. A DPT planner is studying the whole Market Street corridor to suggest ideas for the improving safety.
Formula
Retail Limits Passes Board of Supervisors
A law that requires additional notification of plans to open an outlet of a “formula” retailer with more than 12 outlets in a neighborhood commercial district like the Castro passed the Board of Supervisor in March, with the support of Sup. Dufty. This measure was backed by CAPA and several other neighborhood groups as a modest way to protect the diversity of businesses in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Final
Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety Meeting
Mon., April 26 at 7:00 pm
Castro Meeting Room, 501 Castro Street (Bank of America)
Many CAPA members have attended the previous meetings and have contributed valuable insight and ideas; save the date and come out to support good planning in the Castro!
Bike Plan Meeting Will Feature New Area Lanes
Wed., April 28 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Women's Building, 3543
18th Street near Valencia
Come to the FINAL Bike Plan Update Workshop for Cesar
Chavez/26th St., 17th Street, Upper Market and 14th Street.
The City’s proposals for new bike lanes are one step closer to a reality, add
your voice for these lanes serving the Castro!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Traffic Calming Meetings: CAPA members were present at the first traffic calming meeting Feb. 23. Much of what was discussed is short term improvements such as new traffic lights and improved signs, but CAPA members including Joe Curtin and Linton Stables and Peter Albert stressed the importance of long range comprehensive planning that could include sidewalk and street designs that include curb bulbs, pedestrian refuges in the center of streets, and other measures that would slow traffic on side streets especially near intersections with Market.
Dustin Blake, assistant to Sup. Dufty, discussed the upcoming series of workshops. The next meetings would feature immediate and long term project planning. Members requested that planning take into consideration work done so far on the Better Neighborhoods plan for Upper Market and Octavia, and that the measures in that plan should be applied at Castro and Market Streets.
Castro Specific Plan: CAPA members will compile material from CAPA many planning workshops into a single document over the next few months. With a draft comprehensive plan based on those documents, members will meet with community leaders to get feedback and support. Aaron Starr and other members are working on a possible town hall style meeting to include all neighborhood groups, possibly in July.
A draft of the various documents will be reviewed by members with discussion and comments at the April CAPA meeting.
UC Berkeley Extension Campus Planning: CAPA has been invited to attend a pre-planning meeting for Upper Market neighborhood groups to discuss the development of the campus. UC Berkeley plans to close the campus, and a consortium of for-profit and not-profit developers has been chosen to build housing and community facilities on the site. Michael Mullin requested that plans include space for non-profit service organizations, classrooms and open space.
AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, April 8, 2004, 7:30
p.m.
1. Call to Order/Introductions 7:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda and previous meeting’s Minutes
3. Castro Specific Plan – Aaron Starr
4. Update on Pedestrian/Traffic Planning
5. Proposal on 19th Street traffic light
6. Finance Report and Membership Update
7. New Business
8.
Adjournment
9:00 p.m.
584 Castro Street,
PMB 169
San Francisco, CA
94114-2588
Tel.(415) 522-1221
Fax.(415) 522-1221
E-mail:
CAPA@home4us.org
Get updates
online! Send your email address to:
curtin_joe@hotmail.com
CAPA GENERAL MEETING
Thurs., April
8 , 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Castro Meeting
Room, 501 Castro Street at 18th.
Second Floor,
above the Bank of America
See the full
agenda inside
Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety
Meeting
Mon., April 26 at 7:00 pm
Castro Meeting Room, 501 Castro Street
(B of A)
Bike Plan Meeting
Wed., April 28 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Women's Building, 3543 18th Street near Valencia
