A popular traffic safety initiative aimed at slowing vehicles and improving pedestrian safety is being paused due to a mounting budget shortfall, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced this week.
The agency cited rising construction costs, record demand and a projected $300 million deficit for fiscal year 2026 as reasons for halting new traffic calming projects.
The program, which began in 2013, has completed more than 1,200 neighborhood improvements over the past decade. These include speed humps, raised crosswalks and other measures designed to reduce speeding and enhance street safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users.
The pause, effective July 1, comes as the agency works through a backlog of more than 300 pending traffic calming requests. Residents can continue submitting new applications until the end of June, but the SFMTA says it will concentrate on addressing existing projects during the pause.
“This strategic shift comes amid rising construction costs, record demand, and a challenging fiscal landscape,” the agency said in a statement. SFMTA also said that it remains committed to the city’s Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic deaths.
While long-term solutions remain uncertain, officials said the program could resume once funding stabilizes.
Source: SF Chronicle, NBCbayarea.com
