On Saturday March 16, 40-year-old Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 38-year-old Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto, and their sons, one-year-old Joaquim and three month old Cauê, were killed by a driver in front of the West Portal library. They were waiting to take the bus to the zoo.

In response to this tragedy, Mayor Breed and Supervisor Melgar directed SFMTA to move quickly to address safety at this bustling transit hub. We applaud them for their leadership on safety for pedestrians and transit riders.

After several months of community input, SFMTA is set to approve a new plan for the West Portal station area next Tuesday, July 16.

The plan includes:

• Pedestrian safety zones and a new plaza area in front of the station, extending to the West Portal Library
• Traffic calming throughout the West Portal neighborhood
• Minimal turn restrictions on West Portal Avenue and red lanes for Muni trains

West Portal should be a best-in-class transit plaza that prioritizes safety, enhances the community, and where buses and trains pass through reliably without traffic congestion. As such, KidSafe SF is calling on SFMTA’s Board of Directors to:

• Approve the project without delay
• Amend the resolution to restore the turn restrictions and transit-only lanes included in staff’s original design
• Continue to include one-way Lenox Way to bring more safety to this pedestrian hotspot and school zone
• Encourage staff to use bollards and other hardened materials like planters to protect the lives of pedestrians

Together, these changes are the first step toward turning West Portal into a world class transit plaza. They will improve safety and transit reliability at a chaotic intersection while still allowing people to drive and park on West Portal Avenue to access local businesses. The turn restrictions and red lanes will also move West Portal into line with the city’s Transit First policy, helping buses and trains move faster through this key transit hub.

When we think of the city’s future, we want to live in a city that prioritizes transit and public spaces. The best cities in the world build great transit plazas, where people can safely and easily board trains and buses, transfer to new routes, and linger awhile, perhaps even enjoying a coffee while waiting for the train. San Francisco can join them, starting by building this project in West Portal and showing the world how we can lead.

Send a letter to city leaders to support this project, and let them know that safety on our streets—in West Portal and across the city—can't wait any longer.