Has the Great Highway closure made traffic worse? New data offers a surprising answer
Motorists drive on the Great Highway next to Ocean Beach during the morning commute in 2024. San Francisco voters in Tuesday’s election will once again determine the future of this contested strip of road.
TL;DR
- Proposition G is a local ballot measure that would reopen a two-mile stretch of the Great Highway in San Francisco to cars on weekdays.
- Opponents of the closure claim it has caused significant traffic jams and disrupted routines on the city's west side.
- Supporters argue that the oceanfront park created by the closure is a worthy trade-off and that traffic slowdowns are less severe than predicted.
- A study of traffic times found a modest increase in congestion on west-side streets, but also on streets not considered direct reroutes from the highway closure, suggesting multiple contributing factors.
- Commute times have slightly increased for some routes that previously would have used the highway, but the changes are small.
- Other factors influencing traffic include freeway repairs by Caltrans, a return to office policies, increased freight traffic, and traffic calming measures implemented by the SFMTA.
- Modelers also attribute travel time changes to human behavior and decision-making regarding transportation choices.
- The debate over the Great Highway closure reflects broader divisions in the city regarding public space and the prioritization of different community needs.
- Some residents, including those with disabilities, report difficulties accessing areas around the former highway and park.