Van Ness Avenue Enhancement Project

Public Works coordinated with the Transportation Authority’s Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which proposes dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, pedestrian improvements, and transit platform improvements. We also collaborated with numerous other City agencies, and would like to thank the Mayor’s Office of Greening, City Real Estate, the Arts Commission, and the Municipal Transportation Agency for their dedication to the project. In addition, valuable input was received from Civic Center Commission, CSAA, Honda, Lighthouse for the Blind and Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association. 

Four major goals were identified through the planning process:

1. Creating a classic civic design that will both complement the existing architecture and enhance this historic district
2. Honoring the unique cultural resources in the area by promoting a more pleasant pedestrian experience
3. Balancing the needs of all transportation users, from pedestrians to cars
4. Improving the City’s environment by extending green space on our streets

Van Ness Avenue will see an innovative vision of improvements brought to life in the Civic Center area, from Market to McAllister Streets. Together with raised planters of blooming shrubs and new street trees, accented by decorative paving and ornamental metal rails — Van Ness Avenue Enhancements has enhanced the grand historic character of this important district.