Keeping drivers safe is the purpose of the San Francisco Municipal Traffic Authority’s (SFMTA) Traffic Calming Program, which works in tandem with the city’s Vision Zero, a program aimed at eliminating traffic-related deaths on San Francisco’s streets.
To meet demand, SFMTA officials said recently that instead of the usual 25, 51 applications will be accepted for this year’s Traffic Calming Program.
“We’re glad to see increased interest from San Franciscans in making our streets safer,” SFMTA Director of transportation Ed Reiskin said. “Unsafe speed is the leading factor in severe injury and fatal traffic crashes in the city, claiming 10 times more lives than drunk drivers. On some residential streets, we’ve seen cars consistently traveling between 35 and 40 mph, which is egregious. Working with our neighbors, the SFMTA has been using devices like speed humps to great success, reducing the number of vehicles traveling between 35-40 mph by 73 percent.”
Applications for the program have risen steadily, with 102, an all-time high, submitted for the 2015-16 program. To be considered, applications must include 20 signatures from residents of the neighborhood that is applying.
“Initiatives like the Traffic Calming Program highlight our city’s deep commitment to safer streets,” Mayor Ed Lee said. “With so many deeply dedicated local champions for slower, safer streets, we will realize our Vision Zero goals to eliminate traffic deaths citywide.”
Katy Tang, SFMTA’s District 4 supervisor, agreed.
“Local advocacy is key to creating safer, slower residential streets,” Tang said. “Unsafe speeding is a problem that the community and local government are tackling together. I look forward to building safer streets for our families.”
Applicants for the Traffic Calming Program are selected using data such as speeding, crash history, traffic counts, and locations of schools, transit stops and bicycle routes.
For more information, log on to www.sfmta.com/calming.
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