Sloat Boulevard Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Sloat Boulevard, part of State Route 35, traverses a San Francisco residential area. The Sloat Boulevard Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project provided safety improvements at the intersection of Forest View Dr and Sloat Blvd, located between the congested streets of 19th Ave and Skyline Drive. This is a very busy intersection because of its location close to the ocean, zoo, and the park which attract tourists as well as residents. Students use the MUNI bus routes on Sloat and then travel along Forest View Drive to Lowell High School. The area has a very active community and with their Supervisor reached out to Caltrans for help in addressing pedestrian safety on Sloat Blvd. In July 2010, Caltrans reduced Sloat from 6 lanes to 4, and established a bike lane, new signage and striping. In Feb. 2012, the Lakeshore Acres Improvement Club met with Public Works, Municipal Transportation Agency and Police Department. The neighbors felt that the new improvements did not increase pedestrian safety and asked for stop signs. However, stop signs didn’t meet Caltrans criteria, so an innovative beacon was selected. In July 2012, the project applied for a HSIP grant with support from the Mayor and the community representing 18 home owner associations. The Forest View Dr. intersection was selected by reviewing the pedestrian fatality and injury statistics in conformance with the selection criteria for Federal Highway Safety Improvement Grants. In March 2013, Hanren Chang was struck and killed on Sloat by a drunk driver on her 17th birthday. The Mayor accelerated the project with the goal of completion before Lowell HS reopened in the fall. Through tremendous cooperation by the project team and Caltrans and with widespread community and political support, this goal was accomplished.The project is nominated for the award because: 1) It is innovative and unique, installing a pedestrian High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) beacon, bulb-outs, median extension, curb ramps and cross walks to enhance pedestrian safety. 2) The HAWK beacon is a unique and interactive intelligent transportation system and has the benefit of being a finable and enforceable by law officers if vehicles run the red light. 3) This innovative pedestrian signal is the 1st of its kind in San Francisco, first on a Caltrans State Route, and only the 2nd in California. 4) The project provides traffic calming. The HAWK stops traffic along Sloat Blvd. providing a safer environment for pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and transit riders. 5) The HAWK beacon is easy to use, activated by pedestrians with the push of a button when they’re ready to cross the street. 6) The project provides a safer and shorter crossing at this busy intersection along Sloat. 7) The $690K project was cost effective. 8) The project demonstrates successful collaboration between multiple agencies and the community. It was completed quickly and on time with excellent teamwork and support.