In an unusual twist, the SFMTA is developing a plan to add parking to Hayes Valley—but it'll come at the cost of a lane of traffic on Fell and Oak streets, between Octavia and Gough.

The ongoing Octavia Boulevard Enhancement Project is proposing to convert the parallel parking spots along those blocks of Oak and Fell to angled parking. That would require the removal of a lane of traffic—making the blocks two lanes, instead of three—but would add as many as eight extra parking spaces.

The two blocks of Oak and Fell that would be affected by the changes.

Image: Google

The motivation behind the change is to improve safety for pedestrians; the plan would also include a bulb-out at Octavia, and could encompass wider sidewalks down the line.

"The net result is the repurposing of less than a handful of parking spaces, in order to realize major pedestrian safety benefits and a public space improvement," Casey Hildreth, a senior planner at the SFMTA, told us.

The bulk of the parking additions would take place on Fell Street, with an expected six to eight parking spaces added through the new format. Oak, on the other hand, would see little change to its amount of parking, due to its existing driveways and the potential need to maintain a third travel lane approaching Gough.



Existing and proposed parking on Fell and Oak streets.

Image: SFMTA

“In a few years, more residents and businesses will call Octavia Boulevard and Hayes Valley home, and even more people will be visiting the neighborhood," said Hildreth. "To enhance transportation options in the area, we are currently refining roadway improvements to Oak and Fell. This will lay the groundwork for safer streets, better public space and more organized roadways in Hayes Valley, while being mindful of citywide mobility and local parking needs.”



The SFMTA hopes that the proposal will be finalized by July, with public hearings taking place in August or September. Once approved, the project could take place within a month, meaning the changeover as a whole could occur before the end of the year.

The proposal for Fell and Oak will be presented by the SFMTA at the upcoming PROXY block party on June 7th, which will also double as a launch party for the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Swing by to talk to SFMTA planners, and learn what else is in store for the neighborhood.



