Tomorrow, the SFMTA Board of Directors is set to cast their final vote on the proposed Valencia Street bikeway design, specifically engineered to run alongside the traffic rather than at the center. After nearly a year of community dialogue and design refinements, we could see construction kicking off as early as January 2025 if the plan is green-lit. The initiative’s heartbeat is establishing a safer, more engaging experience for those navigating the dynamic stretch between 15th and 23rd streets on Valencia.
According to a post onSFMTA’sblog, the design venture set sail with extensive outreach. The staff consorted with the public to curtail the issues presented by the existing center-running bikeway. After the board set the compass towards exploring a side-running solution, the conversation widened to include merchants, residents, and visitors. Their feedback was crucial in steering the design process toward what the community found important.
It’s been a journey marked by intricate consultations with hundreds of hours of public outreach, including two open houses with more than 150 attendees, mailers to over 12,000 residents and businesses, signage, email, and SMS updates punctuated by walking tours, and merchant meetings block-by-block. “We used the guiding principles of safety, access and economic vitality. This way, we were able to help different stakeholders compromise,” theSFMTAblog read. A construction working group was established to meld the perspectives of local merchants, residents, and advocacy groups with SFMTA’s construction team to create a feasible implementation strategy.
The input of over 100 merchants has touched the design, all 26 parklet owners, and the community. This collective voice has led to flexible arrangements for parklet owners and a “floating” parklet concept, the first of its kind in San Francisco, emulating successful models from Oakland and New York City. A tailored curb management strategy has also been worked into the framework. It adapts to the unique needs of businesses for parking and loading while optimizing the availability of spots for delivery vehicles and personal transport. To top it off, landscaping upgrades are on the cards to lend finer aesthetic and functional appeal to Valencia Street, making it a more alluring destination.
The board’s thumb-up will be pending tomorrow, and the SFMTA will refine construction details, including timelines and phased roll-outs. Community members are encouraged to stay tuned by signing up for updates on the SFMTA website. The aim is to keep the dialogue lines open and flowing as the project evolves from the drawing board to the physical tapestry of Valencia Street.
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