PRESS RELEASE 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 3, 2012 

CONTACT: Gloria Chan (415) 554-6926, Gloria.chan@sfdpw.org

CITY ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ROAD REPAVING AND STREET SAFETY BOND PROGRAM 

Three-year Project Set to Repave Streets, Improve Streetscapes Throughout SF Neighborhoods

San Francisco, CA – Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Supervisor Scott Wiener, Supervisor David Chiu, the Department of Public Works, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and community advocates today announced the launch of a voter-supported, three-year $248 million public infrastructure improvement project that will repave city blocks in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco. The event was marked by the signing of legislation by the Mayor to officially kick off the first phase of the Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond, which was passed by in November. The Mayor and Supervisors commended the coalition of support for the Bond and touted the work scope as a job-creating investment in the future of San Francisco.

“Today we are here to mark an historic milestone and the beginning of a promised investment in the future of our City's infrastructure,” said Mayor Lee. “Paving our roads and making much-needed repairs to our City infrastructure will create jobs in San Francisco, improve our public transportation system, and save taxpayers millions of dollars in the future with the preventative maintenance we do today.”

The Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond also implements streetscape improvement projects to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, install upgraded traffic flow systems on local streets, and build sidewalk curb ramps to meet the City’s obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Further work includes projects to repair deteriorating street structures. Select paving projects will begin construction as early as summer.

“The support for this Streets Bond has been remarkable, resulting from collaboration among the community, city agencies and elected officials,” said Supervisor Scott Wiener. “There is a considerable scope of work planned to improve city streets, increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and bring marked improvements to our neighborhoods that residents will notice.” 

The projects are prioritized as a part of the City’s Ten-Year Capital Plan and include financing from bond sales for the first year of work in the amount of $76.5 million, as approved by the Board of Supervisors this week. The projects are coordinated in an effort to demonstrate the City’s fiscal responsibility in capital planning, with emphasis on objectivity, accountability and transparency.

“The Streets Bond work requires significant coordination with many partners that comes with the management of paving city blocks in three years,” said Mohammed Nuru, Interim Director of the Department of Public Works. “DPW is committed to managing the repairs and street improvements; which will extend the lifespan of many public right-of-way structures that the public will make use of for years to come.”

The infrastructure improvements are in line with the Mayor’s 17-Point Jobs Plan, which calls for the creation of jobs through public infrastructure investments and for aggressive implementation of the Local Hire Ordinance to ensure that City-funded projects hire San Franciscans and employ local contractors. The bond is estimated to potentially create more than 1,600 construction and jobs in related industries, and will additionally boost the City’s public transportation system and make traffic enhancements that aim to increase Muni’s on-time performance.

“The vital improvements to our street and traffic infrastructure are going to have immediate and lasting positive effects on the City’s transportation system,” said Ed Reiskin, Executive Director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). “Along the repaired Muni routes, riders and city travelers can expect smoother journeys, shorter commute times, and increased safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers.”

The $248 million Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond was approved by voters in November 2011 to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of San Francisco’s roads and sidewalks. The sale of the first set of bonds funding was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors this week and funds will be available for use in late February. More information about the work scope and paving plans can be found at sfdpw.org/streetsbond.

"Because the number of people bicycling in San Francisco is growing significantly, this boost of resources toward safer, more inviting streets could not come at a more important time," says Leah Shahum, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. "And this is good news for our local economy, as more people biking and walking means more people visiting our local commercial corridors."

The City’s Ten-Year Capital Plan recommended the Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond to address critical capital improvement needs in the right-of-way. Approved by the Board and Mayor every other year, the Capital Plan is a fiscally responsible, transparent, and accountable process to identify and fund infrastructure needs. For more information, visit onesanfrancisco.org.

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