Wet concrete vs. car on Elk Street conjures troubled history of achieving crosswalk

Glen Park resident Sal Novoa was driving on Elk Street Tuesday afternoon, January 24, when he spotted a most peculiar scene. He tells it this way:

“Sharing some photos of an unfortunate driving error.

“An older gentleman weaved around the street closure barriers. We heard the workers trying to stop him from entering, their hands up, trying to get his attention. Yet he still drove into the roadway onto the just poured cement section.

“Amazing.

“The driver asked for help pulling his car out, and the workers jumped into action.

“After the R&S Construction crew pulled the driver out, they towed his car using large machinery. Then they guided him to Sussex Street to check his vehicle. They helped tie up and stabilize both his bumpers that were damaged. They also cleaned off all the cement under his tire wells, engine carriage, and back bumper area with a hose.

“The crew then raced to fix the section before it dried out.

“Kudos to the workers.”

Elk/Sussex crosswalk–from funding to near reality in only 6 years

The problem of speeding on Elk Street and lack of safe access to the Sussex Street staircase entrance to Glen Canyon Park was mentioned as far back as 2008 as one of the hoped-for upgrades through funds from the 2008 Clean and Safe Parks Bond. However, only certain urgent improvements were made to the Rec Center with the available funds, and it was left to SFMTA to address the safety issues on Elk Street.

In January 2016 the Glen Park News reported that “There’s a long time issue of speeding and pedestrian safety. [Supervisor Scott] Wiener is actively looking for funding to make the broad stretch of Elk safer.”

Major improvements to the Rec Center, playground, tennis courts and surrounding areas were completed in 2017 with funds from the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhoods Parks Bond. Still no crosswalk.

Funding for the crosswalk was approved in 2017:

Sussex Crossing Update

Timeline be damned, yet another announcement from SFMTA, this one from February 2019, which features a sketch of the proposed intersection safety improvements:

SFMTA Posts Notice about Elk/Sussex Intersection Work

In March 2019 SFMTA board considered establishing rapid flashing beacons at Elk and Sussex but there was no action documented in the board minutes.

At this rate soon enough we’re bumping up against the pandemic when time stands still.

The work is finally underway. Through traffic is being detoured. Curb work is complete, a stretch of Elk Street is being repaved, and electrical work has been done for flashing beacons at the crosswalk.