Many otherwise calm neighborhoods are beset by commuter traffic overflow during morning and evening rush hours. Drivers crosscutting local streets often create unwanted noise and pose a threat to pedestrians, particularly school children. What can you do to make your own community’s streets safer?

• A first step toward managing traffic issues in your own area is simply to make sure that street signs, traffic signals and road markings are clear and/or functioning properly. For example, if any signs have been damaged or marred by graffiti, you’ll want to have them repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Following are some contact numbers for the Department of Parking & Traffic (DPT) that you can call to have common problems corrected:
  
  
  • Curb Painting: (415) 554-2336, call to report faded colored curbs;
  • Paint Shop: (415) 715-4074, call to report faded or damaged road markings — e.g., stop lines and crosswalks;
  • Traffic Engineering: (415) 554-2300, call to request new signage — e.g., stop sign installation;
  • Traffic Sign Shop: (415) 554-9780, call to report street signs, traffic signs and utility poles in need of repair or replacement; and
    
  • Traffic Signals: (415) 550-2736, call to report malfunctioning traffic lights.
    
    
• You should also contact the DPT’s Traffic Engineering & Operations Division if you have suggestions for improving traffic circulation, pedestrian & bicycle safety or street parking. Traffic Engineering & Operations is in charge of adding or improving signage, bike lanes, street markings, signal timing changes, and the like. Call or write:

Jack Lucero Fleck
Acting Deputy Director and City Traffic Engineer
Department of Parking and Traffic
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 345
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-554-2300