Vision Zero San Francisco: New Safety Beacons

Flashing Beacons Protect Pedestrians Across the City

A San Francisco street redesigned under the Vision Zero initiative, featuring enhanced pedestrian crossings, clear signage, and safety measures to promote traffic calming and pedestrian safety.

San Francisco continues its Vision Zero San Francisco commitment to pedestrian safety with the WalkFirst Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons Project, an initiative that's bringing enhanced crosswalk visibility to ten locations across the city.

What's New?

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), in partnership with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SF Bike), is installing pedestrian-activated rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at key intersections throughout San Francisco. These bright, attention-grabbing lights are designed to alert drivers when pedestrians are crossing, significantly improving safety at mid-block crossings and uncontrolled intersections.

The most recent installation went live on June 9, 2025, at Castro Street and Henry Street. This follows a series of activations over the past two years, with several locations already operational and making crossings safer for residents.

Why This Matters

Three of the ten project locations sit on San Francisco's Vision Zero High Injury Network—corridors identified as having the highest rates of severe and fatal traffic injuries. The flashing beacons serve two critical purposes:

• Increased visibility: Bright, flashing lights make pedestrians impossible to miss, especially during low-light conditions

• Better driver compliance: Studies show RRFBs dramatically increase the rate at which drivers yield to pedestrians in crosswalks

Every installation includes accessible pedestrian signals, ensuring that people with disabilities can safely navigate these intersections. Where needed, the project also adds new curb ramps to create fully accessible pathways.

Where to Find Them

The ten project locations include:

• Alemany Boulevard, Brotherhood Way and Sagamore Street

• Berkeley Way and Diamond Heights Boulevard (east intersection)

• Castro Street and Henry Street

• Clay Street and Gough Street

• Clayton Street and Fulton Street

• Cortland Avenue and Moultrie Street

• Diamond Heights Boulevard and Duncan Street (north intersection)

• Roselyn Terrace and Turk Boulevard

• San Bruno Avenue and Woolsey Street

• Turk Boulevard and Willard Street North

Seven locations are now active, with the remaining three coming soon. The project received approval from the City Traffic Engineer in November 2023 following a public engineering hearing, and it's funded through SFCTA Proposition B.

Vision Zero San Francisco: A Step Toward Safer Streets

This project represents one more piece of San Francisco's broader Vision Zero strategy—the city's commitment to eliminating traffic deaths by making streets safer for everyone. With each new beacon activated, San Francisco moves closer to that goal, one safer crossing at a time.

Whether you're walking through the Castro, navigating Diamond Heights, or crossing in the Excelsior, keep an eye out for these new safety features. And if you're driving, remember: flashing lights mean pedestrians have the right of way.