Proposition K | californiachoices.org

My vote

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City closed certain public streets to private motor vehicles, reserving the streets as public open space for recreational purposes. In May 2022, the City replaced the pandemic restrictions on the Upper Great Highway with a pilot program closing the Upper Great Highway to private motor vehicles on Friday afternoons, weekends and holidays. These closures included the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard (Upper Great Highway), adjacent to Ocean Beach. Proposition K is an ordinance that would allow the City to use the Upper Great Highway for public open recreation space, permanently closing it to private motor vehicles seven days a week, with limited exceptions. It would continue to allow emergency vehicles, official government vehicles, intra-park transit shuttle buses and similar authorized vehicles to access the Upper Great Highway at all times. Proposition K is an ordinance that 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Proposition K would likely reduce the cost of government by up to approximately $1.5 million in one-time capital project cost savings and by approximately $350,000 to $700,000 annually in maintenance and operational cost savings.

Next San Francisco County Measure: Measure L

See Endorsements for Proposition K

Details

Pro/Con

Pro:

Supporters argue that San Franciscans want an oceanfront park. With 100,000 visits each weekend, the pilot promenade is already the city’s third most popular park. Prop K will enable daily enjoyment of the coast. It makes the coast more accessible for all visitors, and will support economic revitalization of the westside. The Great Highway has lost its greatest utility as the southern end is already permanently closing due to coastal erosion.

A YES vote on this measure means: you want the City to use the Upper Great Highway as public open recreation space, permanently closing it to private motor vehicles seven days a week, with limited exceptions.

Con:

Opponents argue that Prop K will not create a park nor remove the paved roadway of the Upper Great Highway (UGH). We already have a compromise for private vehicles: weekdays opened and weekends and holidays closed, for several years. Therefore, vote NO on Prop

Our existing Upper Great Highway (UGH) is a vital link for West side residents and businesses' cars transporting families, students, patients, commuters - and sightseers - along our beautiful coast. Closing this road would permanently push vehicles onto adjacent neighborhood streets, bringing noise, traffic snarls and potential accidents

A NO vote on this measure means: you do not want the City to make these changes.

In Depth

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City closed certain public streets to private motor vehicles, reserving the streets as public open space for recreational purposes. These closures included the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard (Upper Great Highway), adjacent to Ocean Beach. In May 2022, the City replaced the pandemic restrictions on the Upper Great Highway with a pilot program closing the Upper Great Highway to private motor vehicles on Friday afternoons, weekends and holidays. The closure does not apply to emergency vehicles, official government vehicles, intra-park transit shuttle buses and similar vehicles authorized to transport people. This pilot program is scheduled to end on December 31, 2025. When the pilot program ends, the Upper Great Highway will be open to private motor vehicles.

Proposition K is an ordinance that would allow the City to use the Upper Great Highway for public open recreation space, permanently closing it to private motor vehicles seven days a week, with limited exceptions. It would continue to allow emergency vehicles, official government vehicles, intra-park transit shuttle buses and similar authorized vehicles to access the Upper Great Highway at all times. The General Manager of the Recreation and Parks Department would have the authority to determine if an emergency exists and allow private motor vehicles to use the Upper Great Highway. Proposition K would require, within 180 days of voter approval of this measure, the City to seek any other approvals necessary to permanently close the Upper Great Highway to private motor vehicles.

If Proposition K is passed by voters, the current pilot program would remain in place until all necessary approvals are obtained and permits granted, or, until the pilot program is scheduled to end on December 31, 2025.

Source: Final Digest - Reserving the Upper Great Highway as Public

Voter Resources

City and County of San Francisco Office of Elections