Photo: SFMTA Photography Department
Introduction
Complete streets is a transportation and design approach that ensures people of all ages and abilities can get around San Francisco. Complete streets efforts focus on making sure streets are designed for everyone who is using them: people walking, biking, taking transit, driving, and other modes.
Complete streets elements often include:
- Curb ramps, accessible signals, signs, and wayfinding
- Comfortable sidewalks and crosswalks
- Bike lanes, bike signals, and bike parking
- Transit priority lanes and signals and high-quality transit stops
- Street trees, lighting, and stormwater management
San Francisco incorporates complete streets elements into transportation planning to make our streets and communities work better for all users. The City’s Better Streets Plan provides guidance on designing streets that incorporate people first, considering pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, street trees, stormwater management, utilities, and livability as well as vehicular circulation and parking.
Benefits of Complete Streets
Better Transportation Choices
By focusing on the movement of people and goods, Complete Streets support a connected transportation network that gives people of all ages safe options to walk, bike, and take transit.
Economic Vitality: Complete Streets promote walkable, vibrant neighborhoods that are easy to get to and support economic development.
Improved Safety and Healthy Communities: Design and accommodation for bicyclists and pedestrians promotes healthy, active lifestyles and reduces the risk of severe and fatal crashes.
For these and other Complete Street benefits, see the 2010 Caltrans Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan (PDF)
Our Work
The Transportation Authority supports development of complete streets through various planning efforts including the SoMa Freeway Ramp Intersection Safety Studies and Alemany Interchange Improvements. We also support complete streets projects across the city with millions of dollars in funding from the Prop K half-cent sales tax for transportation, Prop AA vehicle registration fee, Transportation Fund for Clean Air, and more.
Resources
Metropolitan Transportation Commission: Complete Streets
National Complete Streets Coalition
California Complete Streets Act
Related Project & Studies
