SF’s “Open Streets” Experiment: Octavia Closes to Cars for 1 Week | Hayes Valley

From Friday, March 31 to Friday, April 7, 2017 the SFMTA is closing off a small segment of northbound Octavia Street, from Linden to Hayes streets, for the Octavia Open Street events that will experiment with opening this block for people who want to walk or bike more in the neighborhood.

This open streets event won’t just help the city evaluate how a closure like this would work. It will highlight the overall public realm opportunities along this popular boulevard for everyone in the area.

During the week-long closure, drivers using Octavia Boulevard to reach destinations on or north of Hayes Street may use alternative streets, such as Franklin, Laguna or Buchanan streets. We expect minimal impact to traffic and will be studying the effect of this limited closure carefully.

Plus there’s a series of public events that coincide with the trial closure.

SFMTA/Public Works Outdoor Open House

WHAT: Learn about traffic safety and streetscape projects in the neighborhood, including draft design concepts for enhancing the northbound local lane on Octavia Boulevard between Page and Fell streets, and ideas for a potential longer-duration pilot closure of Octavia St. to motor vehicles at Patricia’s Green. The event format and content will be the same for both days
WHEN: Saturday, April 1 (1 – 4 p.m.) and Wednesday, April 5 (4 – 7 p.m.)
WHERE: PROXY, 432 Octavia Street between Linden and Hayes streets

SFMTA Octavia Boulevard Walk n’ Talk

WHAT: Get out on your lunch break and walk the length of Octavia Boulevard with us to discuss ideas for redesigning the boulevard’s local lanes, potential traffic circulation changes at Market Street and Octavia Boulevard, and the Page Street Neighborway
WHEN: Thursday, April 6 (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
WHERE: Meet at PROXY, 432 Octavia Street between Linden and Hayes streets – light walk to Market Street and back

Additional activities during the week-long event will include a Walk to Work Day event, organized by Walk SF, on the morning of April 6 (with a hub at Ritual Coffee). Also, PROXY is hosting outdoor movie nights on both Friday evenings (March 31 and April 7). There will be other unscheduled activities during the week.

We’re looking forward to seeing many of you on the streets during the Octavia Open Street Event, March 31 through April 7.