Background

The Mission South of Chavez Neighborhood Transportation Study is a community-based effort to review transportation needs, develop and prioritize conceptual designs for near- and medium-term transportation improvements on Mission Street between Cesar Chavez Street and Randall Street. In addition to addressing community transportation concerns, this effort also aims to build community leadership in transportation planning and direct involvement in the public approvals process.

What's New

Read the Final Report, which was approved by the Transportation Authority Board in Fall 2007.

The Community Working Group is in action! Contact to join or learn more in our outreach section.

Other available items:

• an overview presentation for the July 2006 workshop
• a map of potential improvements as presented during the workshop
• a brief update of current activities

Study Details

The Mission South of Chavez Neighborhood Transportation Study is a community-based effort to review transportation needs, develop and prioritize conceptual designs for near- and medium-term transportation improvements on Mission Street between Cesar Chavez Street and Randall Street. In addition to addressing community transportation concerns, this effort also aims to build community leadership in transportation planning and direct involvement in the public approvals process.

For more information, you may:

•   Download the Mission South of Chavez Fact Sheet.
•   Contact the Authority's Project Manager, Zabe Bent, at 415-522-4819
•   Contact The Community Working Group through  or 415-385-8295

The Mission South of Chavez Neighborhood Transportation Study Team builds on the Mission Street Community Vision a community-based effort to identify transportation, land use, and streetscape needs and improvements on Mission Street.  The Community Vision was finalized in September 2005, and identified a range of needed improvements from sidewalk paving to improved bus shelters to parking reallocation to curb extensions for pedestrian safety.

The transportation planning effort, begun in March 2006 and completed in 2007, focuses on transit operations and pedestrian safety needs with the goal of preparing priority projects for detailed design and implementation in the near term. Input from residents, merchants and community groups is a critical component of this work and will shape the Study outcomes. The Study includes a technical review of solutions proposed in the Community Vision to confirm feasibility, followed by a public process where the community will indicate priority needs and solutions. The Study Team developed conceptual designs for the most promising projects, in order to seek capital funding. The Study concludes with a Final Report, completed and approved in 2007, including a funding and implementation plan for a range of near- to mid-term projects.

Status Update

During the July workshop community participants ranked the Mission & Chavez intersection and Mission & Valencia intersections as the top location-based priorities. The Study Team agreed to pursue funding for the Mission & Valencia intersection immediately due to readiness of the proposed improvements, technical feasibility, and community support.  The Study Team will also work with CC Puede and the community working group to determine next steps for improvements at Mission & Chavez. Agency staff will continue to coordinate recommendations with upcoming efforts in the public and private sector as approriate.

MTA submitted an application for TLC funds to implement improvements to the Mission/Valencia intersection, with support from the community working group, TA and other agency staff.  Though this application was unsuccessful, agency staff are still working to improve this intersection with interim improvements consistent with the proposed designs.  As implementation progresses with the community working group, agency staff have devised interim measures at Mission/Valencia and at Mission/30th to bring low-cost improvements in pedestrian safety and reducing vehicle conflicts.

In addition, the agency staff is continuing efforts to pursue capital funds for projects. We are also coordinating with the Better Streets Plan efforts.

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Outreach Efforts

The Study Team included the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, which led efforts to develop the Mission Street Community Vision.  BHNC led outreach for the transportation study to gather input from the community in evaluating the transportation improvements. Outreach efforts include a major public workshop on prioritization and direct outreach to a wide range of community residents, merchants, seniors, youth, etc.  Community members may participate by joining the outreach effort, participating in additionalf data collection, or attending the public workshop scheduled for July.  More recently, the Study Team has worked to support a community working group that has been a liasion between community members and agency staff to shepherd the Neighborhood Transportation Plan through implementation.  To join or learn more about the community working group, contact .

The Study Team held a public workshop to prioritize transportation improvements on July 15th, 2006.  You may download a brief workshop summary to learn about the concepts discussed and review some of the community feedback received during the event. You may also view the workshop materials in posterboard format (double-page layout, smaller file) or workbook format (single-page layout, larger file).

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The Mission South of Chavez Neighborhood Transportation Study is guided by an interagency technical advisory committee including the Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni and the Department of Parking and Traffic), Department of Public Works, Planning Department, and Department of Public Health, along with community representation. The TAC meets periodically to review technical materials and help coordinate inter-agency efforts.

Study Schedule

Funding this Study

The Mission South of Chavez Neighborhood Transportation Study is funded by Proposition K through the San Francisco County Transportation Authoity and by the Department of Public Health's Pedestrian Safety Planning Program. Previous efforts, including the Mission Street Community Vision, have been funded by private foundations, such as the Surdna Foundation, the Haas Jr Foundation, and more.

Other community transportation plans have also been funded by planning grants from Caltrans and by the MTC 's Lifeline Transportation Program.

Helpful Information

Neighborhood transportation studies have also been completed for the Tenderloin-Little Saigon area, in the Outer Mission/Excelsior at Mission-Geneva and on 19th Avenue. The Columbus Avenue Neighborhood Transportation Plan is currently underway.

Other similar efforts in the Mission/Bernal Heights areas include the San Jose/Guerrero Neighborhood Plan.

The Municipal Transportation Agency's Department of Parking and Traffic program for Livable Streets offers information on improving traffic and pedestrian safety.