Supervisor London Breed Announces Renovation of Oak and Fell Streets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Conor Johnston 

May 20, 2015 

conor.johnston@sfgov.org  

415.554.7630

SUPERVISOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES RENOVATION OF OAK AND FELL STREETS 

City Highlights Safety, Infrastructure, and Beautification Improvements on Oak and Fell Streets

San Francisco—District 5 Supervisor and Board of Supervisors President London Breed today joined community members, San Francisco Public Works, the Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), the Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to announce the completion of the Oak and Fell Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project. This collaborative effort brings key safety and environmental improvements to Oak and Fell streets, with new bikeways that are physically separated from vehicles, wider sidewalks at intersection crossings, and  neighborhood greening and storm-water management measures.

“I have advocated for the Oak and Fell safety project from the outset,” said President Breed. “Today’s completion was a long-time coming, but I am very happy it’s finally here. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Together, we are making the streets safer for all who travel this stretch of District 5.”

In addition to carrying tens of thousands of cars each day, Oak Street and Fell Street are the backbone of San Francisco's bicycle network, connecting the Panhandle bike path and Golden Gate Park to the popular “Wiggle” bicycle route that serves thousands of bicyclists every day. Oak and Fell Streets are the flattest, most direct connection from Market Street to the Panhandle path, Golden Gate Park, and western neighborhoods.

“From 2009 to 2015, we have seen a 98 percent increase in bicycling on Fell Street alone, with an average of 46,500 bike trips per month in 2014,” said SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin. “The new design of Oak and Fell streets will help keep the rising numbers of people biking and walking safe, and will also create a more organized roadway for everyone.”

Before the project, street safety had been a concern for both commuters and residents in the neighborhood, with the intersections of Fell and Divisadero streets and Baker and Oak streets being high collision areas. A key component of the project was the installation of “cycletrack” bikeways that use concrete medians to create a separate space for people biking, and a more organized road overall. Installed on both Oak and Fell streets between Baker and Scott streets, the four-foot-wide concrete medians also hold planter boxes to catch rainwater and beautify the corridor.

“It’s a great project, making the streets safer for people walking and riding bikes,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “The design also has environmental benefits, and the landscaping brings more beauty to the neighborhood.”

“These innovative rain gardens not only stop storm water from overwhelming our sewer system, they help beautify the neighborhood with visually appealing, drought-tolerant greenery,” said SFPUC General Manager Harlan Kelly.

With excavation work required to implement the new concrete medians, San Francisco Public Works used the opportunity to build new sidewalk bulbouts that increase pedestrian safety and visibility; replace outdated sewer pipes; and upgrade curb ramps to improve accessibility. The SFPUC also planned and designed new green infrastructure on Oak and Fell streets, including rain gardens and permeable paving which allow a natural filtration of pollutants and direct storm water off of City streets to reduce the strain on our sewer system. These measures are tied to the new safety measures on Oak and Fell streets, such as the concrete medians, and also provide habitat for birds and butterflies.

“The fantastic protected bike lanes we see now on Oak and Fell are the future of bicycling in San Francisco," said Noah Budnick, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bicycle coalition. "Protected bike lanes are the best way to make biking safe and inviting for people of all ages – and create safer, more vibrant, low-stress roads for everyone.”

The new safety improvements on Oak and Fell streets support San Francisco’s efforts to eliminate all traffic fatalities, a goal called Vision Zero. San Francisco adopted Vision Zero as a policy in 2014, committing to build better and safer streets, educate the public on traffic safety, enforce traffic laws, and adopt policy changes that save lives. The result of this collaborative, citywide effort will be safer, more livable streets.

Construction of the Oak and Fell Streets Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project cost approximately $1.5 million, funded by a mixture of 2011 Proposition B bond funds and SFMTA revenue bonds. Prop. B, the 2011 Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond Program, is a $248 million voter-approved general obligation bond that pays for street repaving in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco, and making traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety improvements.

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