Streets for a Pandemic Recovery

MTC is involved in helping cities think about how they can use their streets and sidewalks more creatively — to serve more people and more purposes.

These examples of Complete Streets projects that have been implemented in the Bay Area are models for cities who want to take on similar projects:

• Streatery Parklet and Pick-Up Zone: Reuse of parking spaces adjacent to the sidewalk for outdoor dining space, and designated curbside zones for people picking up for takeout or delivery. For example: The City of San Mateo's Outdoor Dining program.
• Open Streatery and Parking Lot Dining: Outdoor dining space on streets and/or parking lots that are closed to vehicular traffic, including those in new dining zones in the City of Alameda.
• Bikeway: Safe space for biking and rolling that is separated from vehicle traffic, such as the City of San Francisco’s Fell Street temporary bikeway.
• Open Curb: Additional space next to the sidewalk to encourage physical distancing, shared by people walking and slowly biking or rolling, such as those on designated roads in Foster City.
• Open Street: Street closed to all vehicle traffic, providing car-free space for people to move and recreate safely using physical distancing, like the City of San Jose's Al Fresco - Bring It Outside program.
• Shared/Slow Street: Street with only local vehicle traffic, providing space for people to move and recreate safely using physical distancing, including streets in the City of Petaluma.
• Essential Places: Traffic safety improvements that provide safe pedestrian access to essential services such as grocery stores and medical offices, including designated areas in the City of Oakland.

Staff Contacts

Nicola Szibbo, MTC Principal Engineer
Phone: 415-778-6720
Email: nszibbo@bayareametro.gov

Toshi Shepard-Ohta, MTC Assistant Director
Phone: 415-778-5280
Email: tshepard-ohta@bayareametro.gov