Car-free Market Street officially has a start date

Map of changes coming late January 2020. Map of changes coming late January 2020. Photo: SFMTA Photo: SFMTA Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Car-free Market Street officially has a start date 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

The popular plan to take cars off Market Street — home to some of the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians and cyclists in San Francisco — is about to be put into action.

While some have expressed concern over the extra traffic on parallel streets it could cause, it's been lauded as a solution to eliminating traffic fatalities as part of the city's Vision Zero project. According to the SFMTA, the 2.2 miles from Octavia Boulevard to Steuart Street averaged over 100 injury collisions per year, each year since 2014, with over 75 percent of those collissions involving people walking or biking.

Now, we have a date for when Market Street eastbound from 10th Street to Main Street and westbound from Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue will go car-free: January 29, the SFMTA announced Tuesday. This means private vehicles will be restricted (including ride-hail companies like Uber and Lyft), although vehicles with commercial plates, taxis, emergency vehicles and paratransit will still be able to use Market Street. All traffic may still cross Market Street at intersections.

RELATED: Here is what Market Street will look like car-less, according to newly approved plan

In addition, Muni-only lanes will be extended, and new loading zones as well as intersection safety improvements (including new painted safety zones at eight intersections) will be added in the next few weeks.

As part of Vision Zero, the city is placing a protected bike lane along 5th Street that has been taking shape over recent weeks.

This is only the beginning of the City's $604 million Better Market Street Project. Construction managed by Public Works to improve safety, accessibility, transit performance, and replace aging infrastructure will begin in late 2020 or early 2021.

Madeline Wells is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22