With most precincts reported so far, the plan to permanently turn part of the Great Highway in San Francisco into a park is inching toward becoming a reality. Proposition K led Tuesday night with 53% of votes in favor and 47% against.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” said Lucas Lux, campaign manager for the Yes on K campaign. “If K passes, it would be a win for the whole city to enjoy the coast in new ways, and it’s reclaiming a space for people to enjoy.”
One of the most contentious election fights in San Francisco during this election cycle — besides the mayor’s race — has been over Prop. K, which would ban all car traffic on the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard.
Another section of the highway further south is slated to close in early 2025 because of erosion.
“We will never be able to use the Great Highway again for a direct connection to Daly City and the 280,” said Supervisor Joel Engardio in a campaign video, who introduced the bill. “We need to focus on how to make lemonade out of this lemon.”
Engardio cosponsored Prop. K and said the city could address potential issues the highway closure may cause with road improvements, such as replacing stop signs with traffic lights.
San Francisco closed the Upper Great Highway to car traffic during a COVID-19 pandemic-era pilot program, allowing people to bicycle, skate, walk and listen to live music performances along the historic road.
If passed, Prop. K would be a big step in turning the road into a public recreation space. Emergency vehicles will still have access to the road. It requires a majority Yes to pass. Currently, the roadway is open to car traffic on weekdays and closed on the weekends.
San Francisco-based politicians support the proposition, including Mayor London Breed, state Sen. Scott Wiener and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. It’s opposed by three of the candidates who are challenging Mayor London Breed for her seat: Daniel Lurie, Aaron Peskin and Mark Farrell. District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, representing the Richmond District, also opposes the ballot measure.
The San Francisco Estuary Institute published an October report detailing three future scenarios for the highway: banning cars, maintaining the status quo or returning cars altogether.
“While all planning scenarios for the Great Highway present some opportunities to enhance or protect ecosystem health, closing the roadway to cars entirely has the greatest and most immediate ecological benefits,” the report said.
Sea-level rise and coastal erosion threaten the highway and closing it would benefit the area by rehabilitating dunes as a buffer against sea level rise. However, opponents claim that permanently closing it will increase traffic and congestion in nearby neighborhoods.
“Closing this road would permanently push vehicles onto adjacent neighborhood streets, bringing noise, traffic snarls and potential accidents,” said Richie Greenberg, who authored the opposition argument against Prop. K.
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