Plan Would Reduce, Possibly Ban Cars On San Francisco Market Street

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— A new revitalization plan being championed in San Francisco would drastically reduce the number of cars on Market Street, and possibly even ban private motor vehicles altogether on downtown portions of Market.

San Francisco already makes it difficult to drive a car eastbound on busy Market in the downtown area, but things could get even tougher in the near future.

San Francisco State University professor Jason Henderson said right now Market Street is miserable for everyone. He specializes in traffic and transportation and has a keen interest in the City's future transportation plans for Market Street.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

The Better Market Street plan offers several options including the elimination of private cars both east and westbound from the Embarcadero to Franklin Street.

Henderson feels any of the ideas being explored would be an improvement.

"You drive on Market Street, you're stuck in traffic. You're on the bus; you're just lurching along at five miles per hour. You're on a bicycle; you're hitting very rugged terrain," he said.

Currently the city uses forced right turns to limit traffic eastbound on the Mid-Market section of the street and extending that concept from Van Ness to the Ferry Building is another possibility.

Critics of the proposal say removing cars would take the life out of Market and have a negative impact on business.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)