Deadly Sunset inter­section gets traffic signal

New traffic signals are arriving sooner rather than later at an intersection in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset District where one pedestrian was killed and three others injured by cars this year.

Photos by Scot Tucker/SFBay

City officials said the traffic signals would be installed by the end of the year after 78-year-old Isaak Berenzon was fatally struck by car on Feb. 4.

But after submitting the design to the contractor in March and reviewing the latest schedule of the contractor, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency anticipates for the signal to turn on by the end of July, said Paul Rose, a spokesman for the transit agency.

Rose said the transit agency just got word on Tuesday from the contractor that crews have started doing some of the work to install the traffic light:

“The first order of work is excavate and install underground conduits.”

The contractor is familiar with the area since they are also working right now on adding pedestrian countdown signals on Sunset Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, said Rose.

Two more cars struck pedestrians at the same intersection following Berenzon’s death. A 15-year old was hit by a car on Feb. 20 and a 20-year-old woman was hit just last Thursday. Both survived their injuries.

Supervisor Katy Tang, who represents the Outer Sunset District, called the incidents “unacceptable.” She said to expect increased enforcement of the area while crews work on constructing the signal.

The transit agency is also working on other pedestrian safety improvements throughout the City. The SFMTA adopted the City’s Vision Zero policy, which calls upon the transit agency to complete 24 pedestrian and bike safety projects by 24 months.

Staff plan to present an update this Friday on the 24 Vision Zero projects at the SFMTA’s policy and governance board meeting. Other project areas include 19th Avenue, Irving Street and  Fourth and King streets.