Vision Zero Quick-Build Program

Every year in San Francisco, approximately 30 people lose their lives and over 500 more are severely injured while traveling on city streets. Quick-build projects are one tool that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is using to help implement safety projects faster on  San Francisco’s Vision Zero High Injury Network , or the streets where engineering improvements can have the biggest impact in reducing traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries.

The Vision Zero Quick-Build Program is an SFMTA effort to quickly implement pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements while also working on comprehensive longer-term street changes for major capital projects. The SFMTA believes that quick-build safety projects will decrease the number of people fatally and severely injured on San Francisco streets, resulting in progress towards the city's Vision Zero commitment.

Quick-build projects are reversible, adjustable traffic safety improvements that can be installed relatively quickly. Unlike major capital projects that may take years to plan, design, bid and construct, quick-build projects are buildable within weeks and months and are intended to be evaluated and reviewed within the initial 24 months of construction. Typical quick-build type improvements include:

• Paint, delineator, and sign installations
• Parking and loading adjustments
• Signal timing modifications
• Transit stop and route improvements

In 2019, San Francisco Mayor London Breed challenged the SFMTA to streamline and quicken the pace of project delivery for traffic safety improvements and to construct 20 miles of protected bikeways by 2021. Both requests were also echoed by the SFMTA Board of Directors.

“the SFMTA will develop a policy that requires SFMTA staff to move forward with quick, near-term safety enhancements on high injury corridors, including paint, safety posts, and temporary sidewalk extensions” – March 6, 2019

The SFMTA created the Vision Zero Quick-Build program in direct response to Mayor Breed's request and initiated changes to the city's Transportation Code that allows for more a nimble and efficient approach to implementing traffic safety projects. Improvements can be implemented following public outreach and a public hearing, without requiring additional approval by the SFMTA Board. This can get projects on the ground months or even years faster than the current process.

2019 marks the inaugural year of the Vision Zero Quick-Build Program.

• 6th Street, Market Street to Folsom Street
• 7th Street, 16th Street to Townsend Street
• Brannan Street, The Embarcadero to Division Street
• Howard Street, 3rd Street to 6th Street
• Indiana Street, 23rd Street to Cesar Chavez
• Taylor Street, Market Street to Sutter Street
• Terry Francois Boulevard, Mariposa Street to Mission Bay Boulevard
• Valencia Street, Market Street to 14th Street

The Vision Zero Quick-Build Program has already resulted in the accelerated delivery of numerous traffic safety installations to San Francisco streets in its initial year. The SFMTA plans to make use of new streamlined project delivery processes and continue this pace of action to prioritizing traffic safety on the High Injury Network. Many more projects are currently underway for 2020. Please stay tuned!