MEDIA RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Planning Department today announced findings from a survey on proposed improvements to Castro Street. The survey results show that residents and business owners in the Castro community like the basic design proposed for Castro Street’s makeover. Additionally, the survey findings reinforce that an improved Market and Castro Street intersection should be a top priority in the Castro Street Design project.

The San Francisco Planning Department, Municipal Transportation Agency and Department of Public Works are working with community residents and business owners to finalize a conceptual design for the Castro Street renovation. After the first informational meeting and workshop with the Castro community, key survey findings include:

• Over 93 percent of respondents either ‘strongly like’ or ‘somewhat’ like a basic design for Castro Street’s core improvements. The basic design includes wider sidewalks, new paving materials, street lightning, new site furnishings, and landscaping.
• Approximately 91 percent of surveyors either strongly like or somewhat like the idea of reconfiguring the crosswalk at Castro and Market Street so that it is aligned with the Jane Warner Plaza.
• Fifty six percent of survey respondents would most like to see an improved Castro and Market street intersection.
• Sixty one percent indicated that adding street trees is the most desired streetscape enhancement for Castro Street.

“The findings of the survey validate what the top priorities for the Castro Street redesign should be when developing a conceptual plan,” said John Rahaim, San Francisco Planning Director. “The feedback from the community and the improvements that will be implemented into the project design will provide a safer and enriched Castro Street for all residents and visitors to enjoy.”

One hundred and forty respondents from the Castro area participated in the survey. Seventy two percent of respondents indicated association with an address in the 94114 zip-code either as resident, property owner, and/or business owner.

The Castro Street Design Project is a collaborative effort of the San Francisco Planning Department, Municipal Transportation Agency, Department of Public Works, Supervisor Scott Wiener and builds on previous planning efforts lead by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District and local merchants. The project focuses on the busiest part of the Castro Street, the two blocks between market and 19th Streets, which is also a major transit hub for the Castro Muni Metro subway station, the F-Line historic streetcar turnaround, in addition to a number of transit lines.

As part of the project, the City will look at widening sidewalks, improve intersection safety, and add street trees, landscape, lightning, and other streetscape amenities. Funding for the planning and construction of this project will be allocated from the 2011 Road Repaving and Streets Safety Bond.

The City, along with the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, merchants of Upper Market and Castro, and the Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association invites all interested parties to attend the project’s second workshop scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy Auditorium on 4235 19th Street. Staff will present a revised conceptual design based on the community feedback, and attendees will have the opportunity to provide comments.

For more information about the Castro Street Design, visit http://castrostreetdesign.sfplanning.org.


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