Folsom Street ‘makeover’ breaks ground, promises safer, more inviting community corridor

Reporting from SOUTH OF MARKET

San Francisco officials broke ground this week on a project in the South of Market that city leaders say will transform a crowded corridor known for speeding vehicles into a calmer area for those who live, work, walk and bike.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said the Folsom Streetscape Project between Second and 11th streets on Folsom Street will include a reduction of travel lanes for general traffic, improvements to transit service, bike and pedestrian safety improvements.

Specifically, the project will reduce the travel lanes for general traffic to two across the project corridor. Currently, drivers can drive in three lanes between Falmouth and Fourth streets and four lanes between Fourth and Second streets. The SFMTA is also making transit improvements for the Muni routes that travel along the corridor.

The project will include the installation of eight new or upgraded boarding islands, and a transit-only lane that will stretch between 10th and Fourth streets. The 12 Folsom/Pacific and 27 Bryant serve Muni passengers on parts of Folsom Street.

Additionally, crews will install a two-way bikeway separated from traffic by using concrete islands and new bike signals. Several pedestrian safety improvements are also part of the project, including corner bulb-outs, raised crosswalks at alleyways, and mid-block crosswalks.

The SFMTA said Folsom Street is on the city’s high-injury network where a majority of severe and fatal traffic crashes occur on city streets. Data from the agency said while there had been zero fatalities between 2019 and 2023, the number of traffic crashes with injuries totaled 134.

District 6 Matt Dorsey said the ceremonial event kicking off the start of the construction phase of the project:

“This project is about making the South of Market neighborhood a safer and more inviting place to walk, bike shop and take transit.”

Dorsey added:

“Obviously, there’s going to be cars too, but this is about what 21st-century urbanism is. It’s about safety. It’s about celebrating community and creating a destination that’s welcoming and inviting.”

The SFMTA said Folsom Street had catered to trucks and cars serving the manufacturing and warehousing industries post-World War II. But now, the neighborhood is a vibrant spot representing several communities, such as the Filipino Cultural Heritage District and the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District.

Jeffrey Tumlin, head of the SFMTA, said:

“We’re very proud to have worked with all of the communities of this corridor in order to make some adjustments in order to better accommodate pedestrians, people on bikes and Muni buses.”

San Francisco Public Works is leading the construction phase of the project, which the department said will last until the fall of 2026. Crews will work on the project in three phases with the first segment on Folsom Street between 11th to Eighth streets, followed by Eighth to Fifth streets and then Fifth to Second streets.

Public Works Director Carla Short said:

“The streetscape makeover will align with today’s San Francisco — a city that prioritizes traffic safety, resiliency, greening and neighborhood identity.”

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.