San Francisco Public Works
In the Works - October 2020
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic , more than 300,000 people walked , rode transit , bicycled or drove on The Embarcadero on a typical weekday , making it one of San Francisco ’ s busiest corridors .
Although commuter traffic has subsided for the greater part of 2020 , The Embarcadero remains bustling with San Franciscans and visitors who use this route , with its rich mixture of scenery that includes the downtown skyline , the Bay Bridge , Alcatraz and the Ferry Building , for recreation and exercise .
To ensure that this important route remains safe and efficient for cyclists and drivers alike , Public Works has teamed up with SFMTA and the Port of San Francisco on the Ferry Terminal Quick- Build project , which separates vehicles and bicycles with 49 concrete islands from Folsom to Mission streets northbound on The Embarcadero .
The quick-build program is an aspect of the City ’ s Vision Zero Initiative , which focuses on improving the 13 percent of City streets where 75 percent of San Francisco ’ s severe and fatal pedestrian injuries occur . Quickbuild projects are one tool the City uses to help implement safety projects faster on the streets where engineering improvements can have the biggest impact in reducing these types of fatalities and injuries .
With our wide range of project management and construction services , Public Works plays a vital role in the quick-build process . On the Ferry Terminal Quick-Build project specifically , our Bureau of Urban Forestry ’ s Cement Shop is constructing the islands . Each island is 2-feet wide and will be equipped with railings to provide more secure separation between cyclists and motorists . This two-way protected bikeway will serve as a preview of The Embarcadero Enhancement Project ’ s planned safety improvements for the remainder of the corridor .
Metered parking was removed along the two-block stretch and SFMTA and Public Works crews are adding new paint to the road and curbs . In addition , crossings with separated waiting areas for bikes and cars , right-turn-on-red restrictions for vehicles and improved signal timings will be enacted to enhance safety between the ferry terminal and the South of Market neighborhood . These types of investments in critical infrastructure support San Francisco ’ s renewal and recovery while protecting public safety .
Staying true to its name , the Ferry Terminal Quick-Build project is expected to take only about a month to complete . Construction began on October 7 and should wrap up the first week of November .
A lone cyclist tests the new protected bikeway before construction is complete .
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