3rd and Palou

Dear Supervisor Walton, I am writing to you regarding urgent safety concerns at the intersection of 3rd Street and Palou Avenue in District 10. City records document 38 injury collisions within 150 meters of this intersection in the last five years. This figure covers a 150 metre radius, while the Danger Index grade is computed over a tighter 80 metre core, so the two figures are measured over different areas and a reader should not expect them to reconcile. This intersection shows more reported harm than 91 percent of San Francisco intersections, which is grade D on the Danger Index. No exposure normalization: the index ranks reported harm, not risk per crossing. We found no press coverage for this corner in the recent search window, but press coverage of safety problems at this intersection goes back at least 12 years, to 2014. This is the earliest coverage we can find. The automated visual audit flagged faded or sub-standard crosswalk markings in the Street View photograph, and city records corroborate it with 311 reports: 8 in 12 months, and 2 pedestrian crossing collisions in 5 years. The audit also flagged a vehicle turning conflict zone, corroborated by city records showing 2 pedestrian crossing collisions in 5 years. City records further show 311 reports: 4 in 12 months relating to inadequate street lighting, although the visual audit did not find it in the photograph. City records also show 311 reports: 10 in 12 months relating to curb or sidewalk in poor condition, although the visual audit did not find it in the photograph. In total, there have been 170 street-condition 311 reports at this location in the last three years, counting street defects, sidewalk and curb, signs, streetlights and blocked sidewalks only. I urge you to fund Continental crosswalks, corner daylighting, and a leading pedestrian interval for this intersection. This vital safety upgrade is estimated to cost $250,000 to $350,000, order of magnitude, and could be funded through the Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. A resident of District 10