The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) commission has approved an 18-month extension of the bollard program on both Capp and Shotwell streets. The city first approved closures on Capp Street between 18th and 22nd streets in February 2023, to curb traffic from sex workers.
Background
In the summer of 2024, the city renewed the program on Capp and extended it to Shotwell Street between 19th and 21st streets after neighbors threatened to sue the city over what they described as worsening street conditions due to displacement from Capp streets.
The city also installed traffic diverters prohibiting left turns onto Shotwell Street from 21st and 19th streets, which also require right turns from Shotwell onto 19th and 21st streets. Bryant Woo, the manager of signals/developments/street at the Municipal Transportation Agency, said the SFPD recommended the renewal and extension.
Community Reaction
A dozen or so neighbors showed up to support the extension, and others spoke about the negative impact the closure has had on the streets nearby. Meanwhile, the Central American Resource Center of Northern California, better known as CARECEN, is leaving the Mission and moving downtown – the first time away from the Mission since 1986.
CARECEN moved from its home of nearly 20 years at 3101 Mission St., at Cesar Chavez Street, on May 15, to its new home at 1117 Market St., near the Civic Center BART station. The organization resumed its services on June 8.
In other news, the Bicycle Film Festival returns to San Francisco to celebrate its 26th edition at the Mission District’s Gray Area theater. The festival will feature 27 short films divided into three categories: cinematic shorts, adventure shorts, and urban bike shorts.
Additionally, Stray Dog, a new cocktail bar and coffee shop, is having its soft opening this week at 2545 24th St. at Utah Street. Valencia Table, a breakfast restaurant, has also opened at 510 Valencia St. near 16th Street.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.