Release: Castro Street to Receive a Makeover

City prepares plan for pedestrian-friendly upgrade to Castro Street

SAN FRANCISCO – One of San Francisco’s well-known and iconic streets, Castro Street will be redesigned to help accommodate the thousands of residents and visitors who use the street daily.

“We’re excited to launch this effort and design a new Castro Street with the community,” said John Rahaim, Planning Director. “As one of the busiest streets in the city, Castro Street will be redesigned to accommodate pedestrians and all modes of transportation.”

The Castro Street Design Project is a collaborative effort of the San Francisco Planning Department, Municipal Transportation Agency, Department of Public Works, and Supervisor Scott Wiener and builds on previous planning efforts lead by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District and local merchants.  

“Making our streets and sidewalks safer is a key part of creating a transit-first and pedestrian-friendly city,” said Supervisor Scott Wiener, who was instrumental in obtaining the funding for the project. “These long-desired improvements will make the Castro even more beautiful, safe and welcoming to neighborhood residents and visitors from all over the world.”

The project focuses on the busiest part of 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, improving intersection safety, adding street trees, landscaping, lighting, 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 Benefits District, Merchants of Upper Market and Castro, and the Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association invites all interested parties to attend the project’s first workshop scheduled for Wednesday, January 23 at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center on 100 Collingwood Street. Staff will present a preliminary design, and attendees will have the opportunity to provide comments.

The second and final workshop will take place in February, and the conceptual design is scheduled to be completed in April.

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


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Media Contact: Joanna Linsangan

415.575.9119 | joanna.linsangan@sfgov.org
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