Green Between Video Captures the Portola Neighborhood’s Transformation

The next time you visit the Caltrans Maintenance yard in San Francisco, make a point to walk a few blocks south to San Francisco's Portola neighborhood. In about 10 minutes, you'll arrive in a charming and eclectic neighborhood of small businesses, people hurrying to get places, and the neighborhood’s new shining gem, the Green Between. The location and the story behind this new space is so rich, Caltrans created a video about it titled: The Green Between.

The Green Between is a 5-minute video highlighting the successful completion of a neglected Caltrans right-of-way nestled behind a row of houses and businesses in the Portola neighborhood. The Green Between video is a tribute to the efforts that helped turn a blighted area into a flourishing urban sanctuary and an inviting public space for the community to visit and enjoy. The transformation has been miraculous.

At the heart of the video are interviews with people who were instrumental in bringing the space to vibrant life, including Francisco Chavez, San Francisco Maintenance Manager for Caltrans, and Maggie Weis, Co-Founder of the Portola Neighborhood Association. They share personal insights into restoring the right-of-way and its impact on the community. Also featured in the video are neighborhood volunteers who helped clear debris, and overgrown weeds to revitalize the area. They continue to work and volunteer at The Green Between to this day. Maggie Weis, Co-Founder of the Portola Neighborhood Association, is featured in the video sharing her involvement in the neighborhood. She speaks about transforming the space as a unifying space for residents and visitors.

While the Green Between video focuses on the efforts of those involved in the transformation, it is important to recognize that the project was initially spearheaded by Chris Balingit, San Francisco Maintenance Supervisor with Caltrans. Balingit had a vision for improving the area, and his vision was a force behind the project. His initiative to clear the debris space and his understanding of the neighborhood's needs set the stage for a model for Caltrans-Community urban renewal collaborative success.

The Green Between project exemplifies what can be accomplished when communities unite for the greater good. It also highlights the audiovisual expertise of Dennis Parecadan, who is the audiovisual and television specialist for Caltrans D4 who created the video. We invite everyone to watch the it, share in the success of this project, and be inspired by the Portola neighborhood's journey from a space of neglect to one of beauty and community pride. To view it and to learn more about the project, visit The Green Between.

Safer Taylor Street Project Completed!

In January this year, Aung Maung, District 4 Chief Safety Officer/ Division Chief, Transportation Safety (seen far left) joined in a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony with San Francisco stakeholders, to mark the successful completion of Safer Taylor Street Project, a crucial endeavor Caltrans provided funding for, that has greatly improved the safety of people who walk, cycle, and drive in and around the Turk and Ellis Street areas. The project was formed after officials and community members saw a disturbing trend. From February 2015 to February 2020, residents and community members who live near Taylor Street between Turk and Ellis Streets, in the heart of the Tenderloin District, experienced 94 collisions, including three fatalities. Of these incidents, 65 involved pedestrians and cyclists, according to a study. It concluded that one injury per month were occurring.

According to San Francisco Public Works, Taylor Street is a key downtown corridor that regularly experiences heavy foot traffic and frequent cycling activity, especially with its proximity to local businesses and hubs. However, the infrastructure was not designed to support a high level of pedestrian and bicycle activity.

The narrow sidewalks, inadequate bike lanes, and high traffic speeds were leading to a dangerous environment, of crashes and injuries. It was clear improvements to these infrastructural issues were needed. This led to Safer Taylor Street Project.

The Safer Taylor Street Project aimed to improve safety and livability along and around Taylor Street by making very specific improvements in locations where cyclists, and pedestrians regularly frequent. Here are the results of (taken from the SFPW website):

• Wider Sidewalks: Sidewalks along Taylor Street were expanded to provide more pedestrian space, reducing crowding, and improving walkability.
• Protected Bike Lanes: A significant project component was the introduction of protected bike lanes. These dedicated lanes offer cyclists a safer alternative to riding in mixed-traffic conditions, minimizing the risk of collisions with vehicles.
• Improved Crosswalks and Signalization: New crosswalks and pedestrian-friendly signal timing were installed at key intersections to ensure that people on foot can cross more safely and with predictable traffic flows.
• Traffic Calming Measures: To reduce vehicle speeds the project implemented traffic calming techniques such as curb extensions, improved signage, and the addition of "slow zone" markings. These measures aim to encourage safer driving behaviors and reduce the likelihood of collisions.

As a result of the targeted infrastructure improvements and community-focused design, the project's completion is making a difference in protecting the pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers in the area.

Caltrans’s funding came by way of the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program. Another portion of this funding came from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program and the Sustainable Communities and Active Transportation Program, designed to support projects that improve safety, mobility, and environmental sustainability.

Through Caltrans's funding, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) was able to make improvements and collaborate among stakeholders to design a pedestrian-friendly environment. Caltrans and SFMTA will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the project's changes and consider additional opportunities for safety improvements across the city.

Supporting Caltrans D7 Colleagues Affected by Southern California Wildfires

In January, we all watched the wildfires ravage Southern California in disbelief.  In a few days, the ferocity of the fires had destroyed historic neighborhoods, family legacies, schools, libraries, churches, synagogues, mosques not to mention a generation of memories, wealth and savings, pets, and precious lives yet to be counted. These fires have left an indelible mark (both literal and figurative) on the southern California landscape, family homes, mom and pop businesses, senior and youth centers, and the lives of thousands, for generations to come.

^{Photo courtesy The LAist}

The devastation has deeply impacted communities across the region, particularly in areas managed by Caltrans District 7 (D7), which includes Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Our colleagues, their families, friends, and communities have been forever changed, and as members of the Caltrans family, we stand united in offering our support, thoughts, and prayers throughout this incredibly difficult time.

For our Caltrans D7 colleagues, these fires are more than just a headline—they are a personal crisis. Many employees are not only dealing with the physical impact of the fires, but also the emotional toll of watching their communities change forever. The emotional strain on those who have had to leave their homes, who now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives, cannot be understated. As a department, we understand that it is during these times that the strength of community and solidarity is needed more than ever.

Last month, Caltrans Director Tony Tavares shared a letter of support for D7 fire victims as well as several ways to donate to funds to support them (see below).  The California Transportation Fund (CTF) has established a Fire Relief Assistance Fund for Caltrans District 7 employees impacted by wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Donations to this account are tax deductible and will not be matched by CTF.

Donations by check should be made out to "CTF" and designated "Caltrans D7 Fire Relief” in the memo line. Please have people mail checks to:

CTF
9500 Kiefer Blvd., PO Box 276828
Sacramento, CA 95827-6828

Donations may also be made online at
https://donorbox.org/caltransdistrict7firerelief

The donor will then enter their donation amount, click continue and then enter their contact information and payment information.

Getting Around an Exciting February in San Francisco:
NBA All-Star Weekend and the Chinese New Year Parade & Festival

Are you mourning the end of the holiday season and festivities? Do you long for a reason to celebrate during these damp wintry days? Say no more, San Francisco is prepping for a thrilling winter weekend this February with two major events: the NBA All-Star Game and the Chinese New Year Parade and Festival both centered in the heart of San Francisco. Although one event being sport and fan focused, and the other deeply steeped in historical cultural relevance, each are occurring during the February 14 -16 weekend when Caltrans expects large crowds to come into the city and the surrounding Bay Area. If you’re wondering how these large crowds will impact traffic. Know that it will be huge. With just one of these events, we could expect major increases to local traffic but factoring in both events, the traffic impact will be significant! But Caltrans is ready and ensuring a smooth and safe experience for everyone during the weekend.

Whether you visit the city using AC Transit, MUNI, BART, SAMTRANS or private car, motorists and passengers won’t have to fret about Caltrans freeway or road work. Caltrans is halting all road repairs requiring lane closures and traffic detours during this exciting weekend. Not just this, but because of recent projects completions motorists and visitors will experience driving and commuting through the area, that much safer. The newly rehabilitated barrier rails on US-101, the recent reinforced ramps along I-280, the new pavement along sections of 19th Avenue, and new traffic lights at the Great Highway intersection at Hwy 35/Skyline Blvd are examples. There is also tremendous progress underway with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge cable inspection project, an effort that is close to completion.

With so much happening in the city, we encourage tourists, residents, and visitors to use public transit, to avoid delays. There’s a lot to be excited about, and here’s why:

The Chinese New Year Parade & Festival 2025: A San Francisco Tradition

^{Photo courtesy Knight Lights Photography}

With the Chinese New Year Parade & Festival 2025 coming the weekend of February 14-16, which in many ways is a San Francisco tradition, it is hands down one of the largest and most colorful celebrations imaginable in the city. This parade and festival have become a tradition, showcasing elaborate floats, dragon dancers, and performances that reflect the city’s deep-rooted Chinese heritage. According to Chineseparade.com San Francisco is one of the few remaining night-illuminated parades in North America and the biggest parade celebrating the lunar new year outside of Asia. You can bet it will draw visitors and tourists to Chinatown in droves.

NBA All-Star Weekend: A Major Draw for San Francisco

^{Photo courtesy the NBA}

NBA fans nationwide, particularly in San Francisco, have been anticipating this event. With San Francisco at Chase Center, hosting the 2025 NBA All-Star Games, we will see a massive event that draws basketball fans, celebrities, and athletes from all over the world to the city. The weekend’s events will include the All-Star Game itself, a Slam Dunk Contest, an HBCU game, and a variety of fan experiences, making it one of the most anticipated sports events of the year. It is estimated that 100,000 fans and thousands of tourists will come the San Francisco-Bay Area for these festivities. Streets around the Chase Center, the venue for the All-Star Game, and other key locations like Market Street will see heavy traffic, and parking will be limited.

Recognizing the importance of these two iconic events, Caltrans has them on its radar and will help minimize disruptions which helps ensure smoother travel for fans, tourists, and drivers navigate San Francisco for the weekend. The department is working closely with local agencies to coordinate traffic flow and provide real-time updates to keep everyone moving safely and efficiently.

Remember, so much happening in the city, we encourage residents and visitors to plan and use public transit, when possible, to avoid road congestion.

Setting the PACE: Public Affairs Customer Engagement Site is Now Live!

District 4 is proud to announce the launch of our new Customer Service Request (CSR) platform. PACE, the Public Affairs Customer Engagement site, provides a regularly updated breakdown of services requested and rendered across the district.

• The CSR dashboard aims to provide an overview of the responsiveness to maintenance services requested across the nine Bay Area counties.
• The data represented as month-to-date falls within a rolling 30-day Service Level Agreement (SLA) and is updated weekly.
• We strive to close 60% (or more) of all monthly service requests received via the CSR website portal.
• For more information or to leave comments/suggestions, please contact D4CSLTEAM@dot.ca.gov.
• To report a highway issue/problem, please submit a CSR ticket through the Customer Service Request Form.

SFhighwayprojects.com is where to find details about current and upcoming Caltrans projects in San Francisco.

Thank you for reading.

The San Francisco County newsletter will be distributed on a bi-monthly schedule.

For 24/7 traffic updates, please visit 511.org or https://x.com/511SFBay
For real-time information, please visit Caltrans QuickMap: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov

CONTACT:

San Francisco County Public Information Officers

Lori Shepherd

Pedro Quintana

General Information
(510) 286-4444

Follow us for more!

| CleanCA.com | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube |