Comments on: San Francisco Struggles to Finance and Build Livable Streets http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric Fischer http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-111341 Eric Fischer Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:12:53 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-111341 Jeffrey Baker: I think you're thinking of the Transbay redevelopment plan, which wants to convert Folsom to two-way operation east of Fremont and to consider extending this to Second Street after SFCTA study. This seems like another example where a particular plan has only a limited scope so it can't propose changes beyond that scope even when it makes sense to do the same thing in adjacent areas. Jeffrey Baker: I think you’re thinking of the Transbay redevelopment plan, which wants to convert Folsom to two-way operation east of Fremont and to consider extending this to Second Street after SFCTA study. This seems like another example where a particular plan has only a limited scope so it can’t propose changes beyond that scope even when it makes sense to do the same thing in adjacent areas.

]]> By: Peter Smith http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-111301 Peter Smith Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:25:22 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-111301 why would we even bother creating a slightly less horrible street? if we don't two-way the highways throughout sf, we'll never have a decent place to live. if you're going to do something, you have to, you know, do something. give people something to rally around. the BRT folks are starting to learn that -- they learned you just can't give people a slightly less horrible streetscape and a slightly less horrible bus experience -- you have to do something more, else your projects languish and/or die. if we're gonna spend a gazillion dollars, it'd better have a damn skippy result -- something that people are craving and will fight for, not just something that they'll be too busy to fight. why would we even bother creating a slightly less horrible street?

if we don’t two-way the highways throughout sf, we’ll never have a decent place to live.

if you’re going to do something, you have to, you know, do something. give people something to rally around. the BRT folks are starting to learn that — they learned you just can’t give people a slightly less horrible streetscape and a slightly less horrible bus experience — you have to do something more, else your projects languish and/or die.

if we’re gonna spend a gazillion dollars, it’d better have a damn skippy result — something that people are craving and will fight for, not just something that they’ll be too busy to fight.

]]> By: Jeffrey W. Baker http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-111051 Jeffrey W. Baker Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:29:40 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-111051 I thought Folsom was only going to be two-way from Fremont to Embarcadero. I thought Folsom was only going to be two-way from Fremont to Embarcadero.

]]> By: Eric Fischer http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-110861 Eric Fischer Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:52:43 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-110861 Sue, the trouble is that the Better Streets Plan scope was specifically limited to pedestrian areas (sidewalks, crosswalks, and bulbs) and was explicitly not allowed to recommend changes to traffic lanes. This is crazy and severely limits the good the plan can do, but is why the renderings don't show things like narrowing roadways or converting one-way streets to two-way. Sue, the trouble is that the Better Streets Plan scope was specifically limited to pedestrian areas (sidewalks, crosswalks, and bulbs) and was explicitly not allowed to recommend changes to traffic lanes. This is crazy and severely limits the good the plan can do, but is why the renderings don’t show things like narrowing roadways or converting one-way streets to two-way.

]]> By: Sue http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-110851 Sue Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:38:26 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-110851 Hmmmm ... I have not yet read the story, but right off I can see that there is something wrong about the artist's rendition of a 'better Folsom Street.' It should be turned back into a two-way street instead of the one-way street it now is along long stretches of it. Hmmmm … I have not yet read the story, but right off I can see that there is something wrong about the artist’s rendition of a ‘better Folsom Street.’ It should be turned back into a two-way street instead of the one-way street it now is along long stretches of it.

]]> By: the greasybear http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-110811 the greasybear Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:06:40 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-110811 "Our streets have simply become so degraded that we can’t consider ourselves leaders any more" In so many ways, that is true of modern-day San Francisco. I do believe we'll build out a more livable city in the coming years, but I don't expect it will be an easy or quick shift. Consciousness-raising is critical as we move forward. People really do love and support calm, tree-shaded streets with amenities like what is shown in the Folsom St. rendering--but right now, most just don't know what they're missing. We need to show them. “Our streets have simply become so degraded that we can’t consider ourselves leaders any more”

In so many ways, that is true of modern-day San Francisco. I do believe we’ll build out a more livable city in the coming years, but I don’t expect it will be an easy or quick shift. Consciousness-raising is critical as we move forward. People really do love and support calm, tree-shaded streets with amenities like what is shown in the Folsom St. rendering–but right now, most just don’t know what they’re missing. We need to show them.

]]> By: Nick http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/san-francisco-struggles-to-finance-and-build-livable-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-110801 Nick Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:27:54 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=116231#comment-110801 That second image gives me the idea that "Streetscape Murals" should be painted on walls so local residents can get an idea of what their street could potentially look like. The whole livability movement is out of sight and therefore out of mind to the average person walking down the street. Create a populist movement and elect a mayor who can get things done. That second image gives me the idea that “Streetscape Murals” should be painted on walls so local residents can get an idea of what their street could potentially look like.

The whole livability movement is out of sight and therefore out of mind to the average person walking down the street. Create a populist movement and elect a mayor who can get things done.

]]>