Cesar Chavez Street, the often congested and freeway-like thoroughfare on the southern end of the Mission District, may soon undergo several redevelopment phases.
Pending full board approval, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority will move ahead with a two-year plan calling for a massive sewage reconstruction in the Spring and Summer of 2011 that is estimated to last 15 months, followed by street landscaping improvements starting in the Fall of 2011 and estimated to last approximately 9 months. This work schedule is subject to variation due to weather conditions.
The makeover will focus on an area between Hampshire and Guerrero Streets.
The improvements, according to the SFMTA, will lead to reducing traffic lanes in each direction from three to two, widening sidewalks, creating a permanent bike lane and establishing a 14-foot wide tree median.
The project will also incorporate “bulb-outs” to slow traffic and possibly two pedestrian resting zones at Mission Street near Capp Street and at Precita and Bryant Streets.
The idea for redeveloping Cesar Chavez Street came by way of a neighborhood petition drive in 2006.
“This is a change in philosophy and how we think about the public’s right-of-way,” said Department of Public Works Director Ed Reiskin, who noted that approximately 25 percent of public spaces in San Francisco are taken up by streets.
Along with the SFMTA, other involved city agencies include the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the San Francisco Planning Department (SFPD).
The SFPUC will oversee replacing sewage lines along Cesar Chavez Street, said Idil Bereket, a spokesperson for the SFPUC. He said the sewer project phase is long overdue because some of the pipes are 75 to 100 years old and are buried under the roadway where the Precita Creek runs. Some 6,000 feet of new sewer pipe will be installed.
The $28.4 million redevelopment plan is largely funded through the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act, an initiative that expired in 2009. Other funds will come from the Environmental Protection Agency and from local matching funds from wastewater service fees paid by residents.
But the proposed plan is seen by some merchants as detrimental to traffic circulation on the busy street. Some do not perceive the planned project as positive and many aren’t aware of the project at all.
“It’s just like a freeway,” said Jacob Hemmati of Sheepskin City that specializes in fur upholstery for automobiles and furniture. “It’s nice already. It’s not a problem. If there was a bike lane on this street there would be more problems.”
May Lee of Brite Look Cleaners said that although the heavy and often congested traffic sometimes clogs the street, “it doesn’t affect business.”
Motorists are likely to complain as well. According to a traffic map provided by the SFPUC, the contractors will try to provide two lanes of traffic in each direction for the duration of the project and advance notice of parking restrictions.