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Report regarding development of a shared streets pilot program in the City of South San Francisco to enhance physical distancing during COVID-19. (Christopher Espiritu, Senior Planner and Sailesh Mehra, Planning Manager)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council review the information in this staff report and provide staff with direction regarding the proposed shared streets pilot program outlined below. There are no actions for consideration at this time.
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BACKGROUND
Beginning June 1, 2020, San Mateo County has a revised shelter in place order which aligned with the Governor's Phase 2 modifications to the statewide stay-at-home order. As cities around the world begin recovering, one way to meet the challenges ahead is to explore shifting how public space is allocated or shared and which uses are prioritized, as a way to mitigate COVID-19's mortality, health, economic, and social impacts.
Exploration of a shared streets program (also known as slow streets or friendly streets) would support the gradual re-opening of a city's economic activity centers by allowing defined spaces in the public right-of-way for businesses and restaurants to use sidewalks and/or adjacent parking spaces for outdoor dining areas, or allocating dedicated spaces to queue for take-out. Some shared streets efforts to support businesses also include diverting vehicles from specific streets to create a car-free plaza or market space and emphasize a safe and accessible area for the public.
In addition, shared streets programs can also provide residential neighborhoods with extended open spaces by temporarily limiting through traffic from certain neighborhood streets. This would enhance residents' capabilities for physically distant socialization that complies with social distancing protocols, and residents can more comfortably use these low-traffic streets for physically distant walking, wheelchair rolling, jogging, and biking in neighborh...
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