Dear Mayor London Breed and Board of Supervisors; Directors Jeffrey Tumlin and Carla Short, and City Traffic Engineer Ricardo Olea,

An elderly man was killed in the crosswalk in the morning of January 31 at Fulton and Arguello. We all know that both Fulton and Arguello, like the rest of San Francisco’s High Injury Network, are streets that have killed and injured before and will do so again. I'm writing to urge SFMTA to immediately implement improvements at the Fulton and Arguello intersection, create a safer and slower Fulton, and proactively prioritize safety-forward measures citywide.

The Fulton Street Safety and Transit Project failed to lower speeds, or introduce significant vehicle calming measures. While the project introduced bus bulbs, the other main safety measure was painted safety zones. The planned transit bulb-out at the north-west corner of Fulton and Arguello (which very well may have helped the pedestrian in this case) has yet to be installed, nearly four years after it was approved. Paint does not protect. Concrete, slower speeds, and narrower lanes do. Therefore:

• We urge the Department of Public Works and SFMTA to prioritize the completion of the transit-bulb-out on the north-west corner on Fulton and Arguello.

• We know that speed kills. So let’s lower the speed limit on Fulton from 30 to 25 mph between Arguello to the Great Highway. This matches the 25 mph limit east of Arguello.

• We know that this intersection is heavily used by cyclists and transit riders accessing stops on Fulton and Arguello. The intersection needs an automatic pedestrian cycle with a leading pedestrian interval accommodating a walking speed of 2.5 feet/second or less.

• Because other Fulton crossings are likewise crucial entrances to Golden Gate Park for people of all ages and abilities, let’s make sure every signalized intersection on Fulton from Stanyan to the Great Highway has these same signal improvements.

• Expedite protected bike lanes on Arguello Boulevard from Fulton to the Presidio

These are basic safety features that will make Fulton, and access to Golden Gate Park, safer for all road users.

To our elected leaders: I also urge you to remember our neighbor who was killed as you weigh the costs and benefits of future Muni Forward, Active Community Plan, and Vision Zero Quick Build projects. For example, building a transit-only lane on Fulton would allow us to put both transit and safety first, by making the bus faster and more convenient, while discouraging dangerous speeding. And there will be other projects that arise, offering safety, transit, and economic benefits—making it easier for San Franciscans to shift more trips to sustainable modes of travel to meet our city’s climate goals—at the cost of some parking. Please consider the lives that you will save as you approve these projects.

Thank you, and please take care.