San Francisco - Urbano Drive

Location

• San Francisco, CA
• Urbano Drive/Victoria Avenue Intersection

Background

In 1995, local residents on Urbano Drive and neighboring streets complained about the excessive speeds and exhibition driving on Urbano Drive. They also complained that drivers were using the neighborhood as a shortcut to get to other areas in the city. The land that the Urbano Drive lies on used to be a racetrack for horses, which explains its perfect elliptical shape. This made it attractive for drivers to use Urbano Drive as a racetrack. Many drivers were also performing “doughnuts” at the intersections with Urbano Drive.

Urbano Drive is 30 feet long from curb to curb. Victoria Drive is also 30 feet long from curb to curb. At the intersection with Victoria Drive, The diagonal distance for Urbano Drive is 125.5 feet long. The diagonal distance of Victoria Avenue at Urbano Drive is 55 feet long. The San Francisco Public Works Department did a traffic study on the area and concluded that traffic circles at every intersection with Urbano Drive would be a good way to slow down drivers and deter exhibition driving.

In 1997, four traffic circles were installed at intersections with Urbano Drive. Residents are responsible for keeping the traffic circles clean. The traffic circle found at Victoria Avenue is ellipse shaped with the longer side being 37.5 feet long and shorter side 15 feet long. Figure 1 shows a sketch of the dimensions of the street.

Figure 1. Sketch of dimensions of Urbano Drive at Victoria Avenue

The San Francisco Public Works Department hoped that the inconvenience of having to maneuver around traffic circles would deter motorists who are using Ingleside Terraces as a shortcut to other areas in the city. This would also stop motorists from performing “doughnuts” at the intersections with Urbano Drive and using Urbano Drive as a racetrack. The traffic circles would force motorists to slow down as they proceeded down Urbano Drive. Everything that the San Francisco Public Works Department hoped for did occur at Urbano Drive and Victoria Avenue. Therefore, making the measures a success.

Accident Information

The accident history for Urbano Drive at Victoria Avenue from 1991 to 2001 shows three accidents. All three accidents occurred before the traffic circles were installed.

Effects of Traffic Calming Measures

There was no data available for speeds on Urbano Drive before the traffic calming measures were implemented. Speed studies that were done after the traffic circles were installed show that the 85th percentile speed at 24.90 mph (April 2001 traffic study). The speeds show that drivers on this street have slowed down and that the traffic circles have been effective. Residents have stopped complaining about the excessive speeds and exhibition driving on Urbano Drive.

Public Response

The overall feeling of the local residents was in support of the traffic calming measures. Initially there were varying degrees of approval by the local residents. Some residents appeared to be mildly interested, but supported the project as the best interest of the neighborhood. Overall many individuals were very excited about the project. After the traffic circles were installed, neighbors were glad to see “doughnuts” and exhibition driving disappear. Today local residents are in charge of doing the maintenance associated with the traffic circles. This includes cutting the grass and trimming the greenery on the traffic circles.

Transportation Philosophy of the Town

San Francisco is a one of the largest and most exciting cities in the United States. Depending in what section of San Francisco you live, the atmosphere will be quite different. Living in downtown is much different from living in the suburbs. Urbano Drive at Victoria Avenue is found in a residential neighborhood, very similar to Los Palos Drive. Residents in this area want to have a peaceful environment without having people racing down their street.

Original Contact

Cathal Hennessey
Department of Parking and Traffic
Traffic Engineering Division
City and County of San Francisco
25 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Fax No. (415) 554-2352
Email: Cathal_Hennessy@ci.sf.ca.us

Urbano Drive at Victoria Avenue Traffic Circle

Urbano Drive at Victoria Avenue

This information originally compiled by Julian De Anda, 2002, as part of a senior project.