Polk and Willow

Dear Supervisor Mahmood, I am writing to you as a concerned resident of District 5 regarding the critical safety issues at the intersection of Polk and Willow. City records show 72 injury collisions, including one fatal incident, within 150 meters of this intersection in the last five years. It is important to note that this radius differs from the 80-meter core used for the Danger Index grade, so these figures are measured over different areas and should not be expected to reconcile. The intersection of Polk and Willow has a Grade F on the city's Danger Index, indicating more reported harm than 99 percent of San Francisco intersections. This index ranks reported harm, not risk per crossing, as it does not include exposure normalization. Furthermore, the location has generated 266 street-condition 311 reports in the last three years, covering street defects, sidewalk and curb issues, signs, streetlights, and blocked sidewalks. These statistics highlight a deeply troubling situation. A resident recently expressed a broader concern, stating, "Why doesn’t San Francisco enforce bike lane violations? Saw a truck parked all in the bike lane at Polk & Geary. This truck was violating at least two parking laws (parked in bike lane, parked at crosswalk) and had no visible license..." This underscores the need for proactive safety measures. To address these serious concerns, I urge you to support funding for critical improvements at Polk and Willow. Specifically, I request your assistance in securing funding for Continental crosswalks, corner daylighting, and a leading pedestrian interval through the Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). The estimated cost for these vital upgrades is $250,000 to $350,000. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely, A resident of District 5