Skip to main content

Five Years of Data Show: Our Street Safety Projects are Making a Difference

Five Years of Data Show: Our Street Safety Projects are Making a Difference
By Julia Malmo

Ever wonder about the effectiveness of projects after they go into the ground? Us, too!  

That’s why, in 2017, we launched the Safe Streets Evaluation Program to help project teams understand whether a transportation safety project’s design is effective, and where there might be opportunities to adjust the design if not. Project evaluation data can also be combined across projects to help the SFMTA track the effectiveness of a certain type of safety improvement, which can in turn streamline the design of future projects. The Safe Streets Evaluation Program helps us work towards achieving Vision Zero, an initiative to prioritize street safety and eliminate traffic deaths in San Francisco.  

This week, we’re looking back on five years of data gathered through our Safe Streets Evaluation Program with the “2022 Safe Streets Evaluation Summary,” an interactive website summarizing the results of 18 bicycle, pedestrian and traffic safety projects implemented since 2017. 

Each of the 18 projects evaluated in the summary report added significant safety upgrades to the streets. Some introduced vehicle travel lane removals (road diets), separated bikeways, separated bike signals, or left-turn traffic calming devices. Others brought general improvements for pedestrians at intersections including pedestrian signal improvements, daylighting (red zones at intersections) and upgraded crosswalks. For every project, the SFMTA drew on a wide range of data—from project-specific observations, to police reports, to speed data—to create a comprehensive view into its’ effectiveness. 

An infographic displaying the project names, key design element, and results. In the lefthand column, under “Inventory” the following projects are listed: 7th Street, 8th Street, Folsom Streetscape, Golden Gate Avenue, Leavenworth Street, Turk Street, Central Embarcadero, Valencia Street, 6th Street, Safer Taylor Street, Indiana Street, California Street, Page Street, Fell Street, Polk Street, Second Street, Masonic Avenue, Left-Turn Safety. In the center column, under “toolbox,” the following elements are listed: Road lane reductions, separated bikeways, bike signals, pedestrian upgrades, left-turn traffic safety. In the righthand column, under “results”, the following findings are listed: Collisions decreased by 18%; 85th percentile speeds decreased by 3%; bicycle volumes increased up to 75%; vehicle-bike interactions at signals decreased by 93%; vehicles blocking the bike lane decreased by 90%; pedestrian-vehicle close calls decreased by 38%; vehicle travel time increased an average of 50 seconds for 7.3 miles of road lane reductions; left turn vehicle speeds decreased by 17%

The evaluation report indicates that the SFMTA’s safety tools are working together to create safer environments for all modes of transportation on city streets. 

You can dig into the whole set of outcomes on the website, but here are some highlights:  

  • Within the projects evaluated, annual collision rates decreased by 18%  

  • Bicycle-related collision rates decreased by 33% and pedestrian-related collision rates decreased by 32%   

  • Bicycle volumes on streets that received bicycle improvements increased up to 75% in the morning peak (8 AM to 10 AM) commute times, with similar growth in the afternoon/evening peak (4 PM to 6 PM) commute times.   

  • Thanks to protected bikeways, the rate of incidents of vehicles blocking the bike lane decreased by 90%.   

  • Close calls or near misses between pedestrians and drivers decreased across evaluated projects by 38%.  

  • Several projects in under-served communities such as the Bayview and Tenderloin are helping to address historic inequities and under-investment in these neighborhoods.   A table titled “Aggregate Project Findings Across Evaluated Projects”. At the top of the table, a blue bar lists out the column titles: Measure; Metric; Overall Findings; Capital Findings; Quick-Build Findings. In the Collisions section, the following sub-categories are evaluated. For Annual Collision Rate: Overall findings show an 18% reduction; Capital Findings show a 19% reduction; Quick-Build Findings show a 17% reduction. For Annual Bike-related collision rate: Overall findings show a 33% reduction; Capital findings show a 5% reduction; Quick-Build findings show a 42% reduction. For Annual Pedestrian Related Collision Rates: Overall findings show a 32% reduction; Capital findings show a 50% reduction; Quick-Build findings show a 26% reduction. In the Vehicle Speed section, the following sub-categories are evaluated. For 85th Percentile Speed: Overall findings show a 3% reduction; Capital findings show a 5% reduction, and Quick-Build Findings show a 3% reduction. For Max Speed Change Observed: Overall findings show a 20% reduction, and no data is present for either Capital Findings or Quick-Build Findings. For Vehicle Travel Time/Vehicle Travel Time in Seconds: Overall findings show 50.00; Capital Findings show 221.00; Quick-Build Findings show 21.50. For the Bike Volume section, the following sub-categories are evaluated. For AM Bike Volumes: Overall Findings show a 75% increase; Capital Findings show a 187% increase; Quick-Build findings show a 41% increase. For PM Bike Volumes: Overall Findings show a 72% increase; Capital Findings show a 107% increase; Quick-Build Findings show a 62% increase. In the Bike Signal Interactions and Close Calls section, the following sub-categories are evaluated. For Bike-Vehicle interactions: Overall findings show a 93% reduction; Capital findings show no data; Quick-Build findings show a 93% reduction. For Close Calls (near misses): Overall findings show a 62% reduction; Capital findings show no data; Quick-Build findings show a 62% reduction. For Average Daily Interactions Post-Implementation: Overall Findings show 2.2; Capital Findings show 0.3; Quick-Build Findings show 3.1. For Bike Compliance w/ Bike Signal: Overall findings show 87% compliance; Capital Findings show 86%; Quick-Build Findings show 88% compliance. For Vehicle Compliance w/ No Turn On Red: Overall findings show 90% compliance; Capital Findings show 86% compliance; Quick-Build findings show 92% compliance. In the Blocking the Bikeway section, Rates of Incidents was evaluated. Overall Findings show a 90% reduction; Capital Findings show a 19% reduction; Quick-Build Findings show a 90% reduction. In the Vehicle-Pedestrian Close Calls Section, Close Calls (near misses) were evaluatd. Overall Findings show a 38% reduction; capital findings show a 0% reduction; quick-build findings show a 34% reduction

The Safe Streets Evaluation team will continue to think creatively about how to build on the evaluation work and use it to inform our current and future projects, programs, and practices through developing a publicly accessible database of all Safe Streets Evaluation data and finding better ways to evaluate project outreach efforts. 

View the 2022 Safe Streets Evaluation Summary 

Learn more about the SFMTA Safe Streets Evaluation Program: SFMTA.com\safestreetsevaluation 

 



Published November 08, 2022 at 04:26AM
https://ift.tt/jcWqtYF
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fire breaks out at shopping centre at Mumbai's Borivali West; efforts to douse flames on https://ift.tt/3iORMZb

A fire was reported at Mumbai's Borivali West early on Saturday. Nearly 14 fire tenders are present at the spot as the efforts to douse the flames continue.  from IndiaTV: Google News Feed https://ift.tt/2W9DhW9
Post a Comment
Read more

सही पकड़े हैं - आपकी अंगूरी भाभी शुभांगी अत्रे को मिल गया है बिग बॉस 14 का न्योता

भाभी जी घर पर हैं, फैन्स के फेवरिट धारावाहिकों में से एक है और इसकी किरदार अंगूरी भाभी तो घर घर में चर्चित हैं। अब आपकी अंगूरी भाभी यानि कि शुभांगी अत्रे को बिग बॉस के घर में बंद होने का from टेलीविजन की खबरें | Television News in Hindi | TV Serials Update in Hindi – FilmiBeat Hindi http:/hindi.filmibeat.com/television/bhabhi-ji-ghar-par-hain-angoori-bhabhi-shubhangi-atre-approached-for-bigg-boss-14-090111.html?utm_source=/rss/filmibeat-hindi-television-fb.xml&utm_medium=104.71.130.47&utm_campaign=client-rss
Post a Comment
Read more

Over dozen shops gutted in fire in Greater Noida market https://ift.tt/2Di1kfv

Around a dozen shops were gutted after a fire broke out at a market in Greater Noida (West) area of Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Thursday night, officials said. The fire is suspected to have started around 8.30 pm with a short circuit in a home appliances shop and then spread to other outlets in the market, located in Bisrakh police station area, the officials said.
Post a Comment
Read more

Scientists uneasy as Russia approves 1st coronavirus vaccine https://ift.tt/3gOLOWL

Russia on Tuesday became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, a move that was met with international skepticism and unease because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people.
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: Report: Homicides Continue to Slowly Rise in the U.S., While Other Violent Crimes Declines

https://ift.tt/3yp5v05 A new report from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) presents data showing that murders have risen 16% in many major American cities over the first 6 months of 2021, as part of what is being widely viewed as a new wave of crime and violence across the U.S. But according to the report, when compared to the same time period last year, the pace of the increase in murders has slowed down from the first quarter of 2021 through the second: In the first quarter of 2021, homicides rose by 23% compared to last year. In the second quarter, they rose by just 10%. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] By the numbers , these Q1/Q2 percentile rises represent 47 murders reported in Portland, Ore. in the first half of 2021 (versus 11 in the equivalent period of 2020), Houston with 228 murders (versus 173 in 2020) and Buffalo, N.Y. with 46 (versus 31 in 2020). But cities like St. Louis saw drops from 156 murders in the first half of 2020 to 108 so far this year, and Bos...
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: Want Unity For Real? Then America Needs to Get Back to Facts

https://ift.tt/3pZWgj1 Philadelphia had never seen such a spectacle. On Friday, July 4, 1788—a dozen years since the Declaration of Independence—the city celebrated the narrow ratification of the Constitution with parades, fireworks, and speeches. The patriot-physician Benjamin Rush appreciatively noted the “pleasant and cooling breeze” and took satisfaction in the evidence of unity after the divisive debates to replace the Articles of Confederation with a more coherent and lasting form of government. “The Rabbi of the Jews, locked in the arms of two ministers of the gospel, was a most delightful sight,” Rush wrote. “I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as perfectly satisfied that the union of the states … is as much the work of divine providence as any of the miracles recorded in the old and new testament were the effects of a divine power.” Rush’s happy conclusion: “’Tis done! We are become a nation.” That nation, however, was...
Post a Comment
Read more

Enhancing Safety on Franklin Street

Enhancing Safety on Franklin Street By Mark Dreger We're excited to share an update on the Franklin Street Quick-Build Project, an effort to enhance traffic safety on Franklin Street between Broadway and Lombard Streets. This roadway stretch was the site of 38 collisions between 2017 and 2021, including the tragic loss of a Sherman Elementary School paraeducator in November 2021. Our data-driven approach focuses on several key safety improvements, and we are ready to share the evaluation results and the next steps to bring further safety changes to Franklin Street.  The project includes the implementation of a suite of safety measures focused on the intersections where neighborhood stakeholders expressed most concerns during the outreach process.  Painted safety zones (PSZs) have been installed to increase pedestrian visibility at crosswalks by keeping the corners of intersections clear. Slow-turn wedges have been added to encourage drivers to turn at safer speeds...
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: Is the U.S. Entering a Fourth Wave of COVID-19?

https://ift.tt/3doS471 It’s the last news anyone wants to hear: one year after the United States was slammed with its first wave of COVID-19—which was followed by even worse second and third waves—public health experts are worried that the country is headed for a fourth major spike. During a White House coronavirus briefing on Monday, Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, begged Americans to keep following public health guidelines amid small but alarming upticks in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. “Right now, I’m scared,” she said. Other scientists tracking the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. agree that there’s plenty to be worried about. Cases are rising in the Northeast, Midwest and elsewhere. At the same time, many governors are relaxing measures intended to limit the spread of the virus, such as mask mandates and caps on restaurant capacity. Furthermore, as vaccinations continue across the country, some people are...
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: 8 People Involved in Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay Infected With COVID-19

https://ift.tt/3vATfb8 Eight people who were involved in the the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19—the latest sign of trouble for Japan as it both struggles with a spike in infections and prepares for the Games this summer. More than 70% of people in Japan want the Olympics, which begin July 23, to be canceled or postponed, according to an April poll by Kyodo News . Runners of the relay, which began its journey to Tokyo on March 25 in Fukushima , have faced heckling and protests . The Japanese government, however, insists that the Games will go ahead following their delay in 2020 due to the pandemic. COVID-19 protocols released last month rely on frequent testing and isolation bubbles for athletes and coaches, but not strict quarantines or vaccinations. Fans from abroad have been banned, and organizers are weighing whether to bar Japanese spectators, as well . On Sunday, the country reported 5,900 new infections, and the number of COVI...
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: What We Have In Common With Humans Of 23,000 Years Ago

https://ift.tt/3uFiyti A version of this article also appeared in the It’s Not Just You newsletter. Sign up to get a new edition from Susanna every Saturday. Recently, researchers reported that they’d found the oldest human footprints in North America. These fossilized tracks were made more than 21,000 years ago in what is now the White Sands National Park in New Mexico. It’s hard to comprehend that span of years and how many generations of humanity have come and gone since then. These were the slighted impressions on the earth—trace markings made by bare human feet pressing into the pliant mud of ancient lake. Yet they survived the Ice Age and everything since to represent people who left hardly any indications that they existed. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] I think about the mountain of documentation we each have of our lives in comparison to those ancient footprints. We’re sure we’ll leave acres of personal history when we go—thousands of photos on dozens of ...
Post a Comment
Read more