Blog
Aug 24

TLCBD Safety Program Increases Support to Jones Street Pedestrian Way

The Tenderloin is home to a large population of families, children, seniors, and groups with disabilities; as well as a shocking number of the City’s high-injury corridors.

As we continue to heed social distancing guidelines, it often feels impossible to follow these rules on the often-crowded sidewalks of the Tenderloin. After months of advocacy from community members, SFMTA has opened more walking space along the Jones Street corridor from Golden Gate to O’Farrell. The Jones Street Pedestrian Way, which serves as a modified version of the City’s Slow Streets, will block all vehicle traffic.

In support of the neighborhood’s unique safety needs, we’ve expanded and pivoted our Pedestrian Safety Program—including increased support to Jones Street and the expansion of a Pedestrian Safety Manager to our team. We are pleased to welcome resident and neighborhood advocate, Eric Rozell, to our team. He will continue to organize, outreach, educate, and further strengthen ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian and traffic safety in the Tenderloin.

“As a Pedestrian Safety Manager at TLCBD, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Tenderloin community to create calmer and safer streets for everyone. By providing safe street crossings for pedestrians and direct education to pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists, I’m confident we can make our streets safer. In this role, I’ll continue to advocate to transform our streets into safe neighborhood ways – instead of high injury thoroughfares.”

The Pedestrian Safety Program first started a few months ago with education and outreach around traffic signal changes at many of the Tenderloin intersections following an uptick in traffic-related injuries and deaths. The program seeks to improve pedestrian and traffic safety in the Tenderloin, a neighborhood in which 100% of the streets are part of the Vision Zero SF high-injury network, by supporting safe street crossings for pedestrians and direct education to pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists.

The Program builds on the proven success of the 12-year-old Tenderloin Safe Passage Program to bring a regular, human presence to neighborhood intersections and streets. TLCBD will also raise public awareness of pedestrian safety, pedestrian scrambles, Quick Builds and other street changes and improvements to community navigation. Those navigation needs now additionally must consider the community health needs of social distancing.

A map showing the Jones Street Neighborhood Way

 

TLCBD has also recently begun coordinating additional cleaning and engagement support along Jones Street in partnership with TLCBD Clean Team, Downtown Streets Team and Code Tenderloin through the CARE Team program. We hope this mutli-CBO partnership will encourage safe use of Jones Street and carry forth a vision from not just a pedestrian way, but A Neighborhood Way for people to safely navigate for essential activity. This work is done with support of SFMTA.

TLCBD Safe Passage will continue to provide assistance along the Jones Street Pedestrian Way for people heading to and from food/health services, including St. Anthony’s and Glide. We will also be working along the corridor in the evenings to assist with rush hour commute.

We also recognize the need for improved physical environment and hope to work the Jones Street Neighborhood Way more inviting.

Eric Rozell, Pedestrian Safety Manager

 

TLCBD is excited to welcome Eric to the position. As a long term Tenderloin resident, pedestrian and cyclist he is aware first-hand of the challenges, dangers, and trauma that can be the result of unsafe streets. “While cycling in the Tenderloin, and San Francisco at large, I’ve been involved in several traffic crashes involving reckless drivers and one crash with a pedestrian who walked into the street. Also, I’ve witnessed several traffic crashes resulting in death and severe injuries.”

I’m extremely excited and passionate to help make our neighborhood streets calmer and safer for everyone. To work to ensure our streets prioritize the safety of the residents and community, so no one has to experience the physical, mental and financial trauma a traffic crash can cause.

Being passionate about mental health and personal development, Eric received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at San Francisco State University, and has worked as a crisis counselor for seniors and adults with disabilities at the Institute on Aging’s Friendship Line.

Please help us in welcoming Eric and spreading the word about the Jones Street Pedestrian Way. Stay tuned for more updates which will be posted to the Pedestrian Safety Program webpage as they become available.