San Francisco Better Neighborhoods Study
Strategies for creating livable streets in San Francisco neighborhoods

“Streets are also our most important civic spaces—they are where we meet and socialize, stroll and take in what the city has to offer. Streets should be more than means of getting from A to B—they should be places worth spending time in and of themselves. Adequate space for pedestrians, trees for shade, benches and stoops for rest, and facades that spill out with activity and intrigue help to make streets safe and comfortable places for people.” - San Francisco Better Neighborhoods Plans, 2002

Specific Plans were completed for three key neighborhoods in San Francisco : the Central Waterfront, the Market/Octavia (Central Freeway) area, and the Balboa Park BART station area. The project involved close collaboration between City staff, urban designers, economists, architects, and a myriad of other planning professionals. To accommodate the complicated needs and priorities in each neighborhood, targeted and innovative transportation strategies were required:

• Focus on reducing traffic impacts by encouraging non-auto travel
• Set maximum parking limits rather than minimum parking requirements
• Conduct a detailed assessment of transit accessibility and efficiency
• Evaluate bicycle and pedestrian accessibility and convenience