Streetscape/Pedestrian Safety Improvement Plan
CBD STREETSCAPE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROJECT GOALS: The following six, closely-linked goals are the key methods that street design will be used to follow through on the broader goals of the CBD in the District. Economic Vitality
A core mandate for the CBD is to support existing and new economic vitality within the District. The Streetscape/Pedestrian Safety Project will address this by looking at the way that design can help bring people to the District, and make the experience of running a business and shopping and dining in the District more enjoyable.
Community Character
The District is unique: a residential village, a business main street, and an LGBT landmark for visitors from around the world. Supporting each of those identities, highlighting the historic nature and history of the District, and supporting local LGBT cultural institutions, are all at the heart of the CBD’s work. Integrating the District’s history and culture into its built environment is a goal of the Streetscape Project.
Accessibility
Encouraging business, residential, and cultural life means ensuring that there is good access to and within the District. In the Streetscape/Pedestrian Safety Project, this means, safe streets, good access to public transportation, parking, walking, and bicycling; and also means encouraging universal access for those with special physical needs.
Public Space
Better public spaces are a key component in creating better communities. In the Streetscape Project, the CBD and Urban Ecology are examining and seeking to create better public space in all of the forms it takes within the District, including sidewalks, intersections, plazas, and storefronts. One very visible part of the project is to look at gateway opportunities that mark the entrances to the District.
Diversity
A key concept behind the Streetscape Project is that better designed public places bring people together and encourage community diversity by creating gathering places and different spaces for different needs and uses. This ties back to the CBD’s goal of encouraging the District’s diversity, and creating welcoming, safe, and useful places for those who live, work, and visit the District.
Strategic Planning
In all of its work, the CBD strives to utilize and leverage its finite resources well by working in tandem with the City and other agencies and funders to improve the District. This Streetscape/Pedestrian Safety Project follows that model by co-ordinating with input collected in the City’s Upper Market Plan process, and other transportation, planning, and funding processes and discussions taking place concurrently.
CASTRO CBD STREETSCAPE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROJECT PROCESS: The CBD has retained Urban Ecology to undertake this Streetscape/Pedestrian Safety Project and focus on Castro, Church, and Market Streets in the District. Urban Ecology is working with the CBD to plan a series of workshops that will collect input, ideas, and comments from property owners, residents, business owners, and community groups. The information from these workshops will be utilized by Urban Ecology to create designs and recommendations, and by the CBD to assist them in making final decisions on the Pedestrian Safety and Streetscape Implementation Plan. The projected timeframe is for the entire process to be completed by July of 2008. 100 BLOCK OF CHURCH STREET PEDESTRIAN SAFETY/ STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS Part of the Castro CBD’s streetscape work has included focused attention on 100 block of Church St.(Church between Duboce and Market streets). Specific focus groups were held with Church St. merchants, the Castro CBD participated in a pedestrian count of the area which was organized by the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association (DTNA), and over the past several months the Castro CBD, has been meeting with DTNA and MTA (MUNI) to discuss potential improvements to the 100 block of Church St. In April 2008, a proposal was submitted to MUNI. Detailed maps and a project list of the proposal can be downloaded by clicking maps. The proposal calls for: - a combined train/bus stop on an enlarged island at the south end of Church St.;
- mid block crosswalk on Church St. at the entrance to Safeway;
- combined train/bus stop on an enlarged island at the north end of Church St.
- enlarged and highly visible crosswalks across 14th St., the southern end of Church St. and a crosswalk from the eastern corner of Church and Market to the western corner of Church and Market and 14th St. This section is delineated in red on the maps.
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS On March 18th and April 8th community workshops were held to get input from property owners, merchants and community members on pedestrian safety and streetscape improvements to the District. Approximately 60 people participated in these lively work sessions drawing on maps to identify what worked in the neighborhood, what didn’t work, and where pedestrian safety can be improved. Pictures of these workshops and a summary will be available here (please check back). The CBD has received a $20,000 grant from SF Department of Public Health to develop a Pedestrian Safety Improvement Plan. The grant is from 2/15/08-6/30/08.
 | Read an article by Kyla Calvert in the Castro Courier about CBD's screetscape improvement plan. |
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