Larch and Van Ness

Dear Supervisor Mahmood, I am writing to you as a concerned resident of District 5 regarding the urgent safety issues at the intersection of Larch and Van Ness. City records show 71 injury collisions within 150 meters of this intersection in the last five years. This figure covers a 150 meter radius, while the Danger Index grade is computed over a tighter 80 meter core, so the two figures are measured over different areas and a reader should not expect them to reconcile. Furthermore, 198 street-condition 311 reports, covering street defects, sidewalk and curb, signs, streetlights, and blocked sidewalks, have been filed at this location in the last three years. The intersection shows more reported harm than 99 percent of San Francisco intersections, earning a grade F on the Danger Index. No exposure normalization: the index ranks reported harm, not risk per crossing. While no recent press coverage was found for this specific corner, documented coverage of safety problems at this intersection goes back at least 10 years, to 2016, representing the earliest coverage we can find. No visual audit findings are available for this corner. To address these documented safety concerns, I respectfully request your support in funding critical improvements: Continental crosswalks, corner daylighting, and a leading pedestrian interval. An estimated $250,000 to $350,000, order of magnitude, would be needed, and I urge you to pursue funding through the Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Thank you for your attention to this vital matter. Sincerely, A resident of District 5