Commissioners discuss impacts of slow streets on emergency response times in San Francisco

The San Francisco City Commission meeting held on July 4, 2025, focused on the ongoing impacts of the city's "slow streets" initiative, particularly regarding traffic patterns and emergency response times. The discussion began with inquiries about data collection related to traffic flow on streets designated as slow streets, specifically Page Street. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is responsible for gathering this data to assess the effects of these street modifications on neighborhood traffic.

Commissioner Covington raised concerns about the implications of closed streets on emergency response times. He noted that while the initiative aims to reduce traffic, it has inadvertently created challenges for emergency vehicles, particularly ambulances and fire trucks, which are experiencing delays due to increased congestion on adjacent streets like Oak Street. Covington emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of how these closures affect response times, especially as the city has not fully returned to pre-pandemic traffic levels.

The Fire Marshall acknowledged the increase in response times but indicated that it is difficult to attribute these solely to the slow streets program, as other factors may also be at play. He mentioned that the department is collaborating with SFMTA to gather more information and monitor response times as some slow streets, including Mariposa, are set to be removed from the program.

The discussion highlighted the complexities of balancing traffic management with emergency services, as well as the necessity for ongoing assessment of the slow streets initiative. The commission plans to continue monitoring the situation to determine the best course of action moving forward.