For decades, planners and transportation specialists have debated how
San Francisco's most important street could be re-visioned to make it
work better for transit, pedestrians, cyclists, shoppers, and those
living on or near it. Now, as the Better Market Street Project moves
forward with trial traffic diversions, the Art in Storefronts project, music and programming in public spaces, greening along sidewalks, and pedestrian safety improvements,
San Francisco's political class is intent on revitalizing the street
for the long haul. Though the concrete vision for what Market Street
will eventually look like is some ways off, there is more effort now
than in many years to improve the public realm and ensure the street
lives up to its great potential.
