MEDIA RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Planning Department today published the Central Corridor Draft Plan, a plan that supports growth and public improvements along and around the transit-rich Fourth Street corridor in the South of Market area (SoMa). The Central Corridor project was first initiated in 2011, and the Draft Plan is the culmination of two years of idea gathering and public conversations about the future of the area between downtown and Mission Bay.

“After years of extensive planning analysis and community engagement, I would like to congratulate the Planning Department on the release of the Central Corridor Draft Plan,” said Mayor Edwin Lee. “The South of Market neighborhood is a global hub of innovation and plays a key role in the City’s continued economic vitality. This comprehensive plan presents a vision for sustainable growth along and around the new Central Subway line, and the City looks forward to continuing the conversation about the Plan with the community.”

The Central Corridor Plan is being managed by the San Francisco Planning Department in collaboration with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and other agencies, and builds on past and current planning efforts within the vicinity. The related plans and projects include the East SoMa and Western SoMa area plans, the former Sixth Street and Yerba Buena Redevelopment Plans, the nearby Mission Bay Redevelopment and Transit Center District Plans, and the ongoing studies related to the future of the Caltrain station.

“Our vision for the Central Corridor is to accommodate transit-oriented growth that builds on and reflects the unique character and history of SoMa,” said San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim. “This Central Corridor Plan will not only accommodate new development in the area, but it will also bring new amenities and protect the social and economic character of SoMa for many years to come.”

Based on community outreach and input since February 2011, the goals of the Central Corridor Plan include:

• supporting transit-oriented growth in the Central Corridor area, including space for up to 30,000 jobs and 3,500 housing units, particularly in the area south of Harrison Street,
• shaping the area’s physical form by recognizing the city and neighborhood contexts,
• maintaining the area’s vibrant social, economic and physical diversity,
• supporting growth with improved streets, additional open space, and other elements of “complete communities”, and
• creating a model of sustainable growth for the SoMa area as an Eco-District.

“We are excited that the Central Corridor Plan is looking to build upon the investment of the Central Subway, which will greatly improve transit access in this part of SoMa,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation, Ed Reiskin. “As part of this effort, we have been working closely with the Planning Department to also envision streets in SoMa that are safer and more attractive for transit, walking and biking and that reflect the evolving character of the area.”

Now that the Draft Plan is published, the environmental review of the Plan and its proposals will commence, and adoption hearings on the Plan are expected in late 2014. As part of this second phase of the planning process, the Planning Department will continue public engagement efforts to gain feedback on the Plan proposals and expand on its details, including hosting regular informal roundtable discussions on specific topics related to the Plan. Funding for the community outreach and the planning of this project was provided by a Community-Based Transportation Planning Grant from Caltrans, with matching funds provided by SFMTA. Funding for the environmental impact report was provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

The Planning Department encourages businesses, residents and neighborhood groups to provide their input and opinion on the Central Corridor Plan over the coming months.

To download the Central Corridor Draft Plan for Public Review and to get on the notification list for future public workshops, visit http://centralcorridor.sfplanning.org.


###

Media Contact: Joanna Linsangan
415.575.9119 | joanna.linsangan@sfgov.org