PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 30, 2012 

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

ROAD REPAVING AND STREET SAFETY BOND PROGRAM BEGINS

Public Works Repaves the First of 400 City Blocks and Lays Out Plans for 73.4 million of First Year Infrastructure Improvement Activities

San Francisco, CA – The Department of Public Works (DPW) today announced the implementation of the $248 million three-year Road Repaving and Street Safety Program (Streets Bond). The bond will repave the roadway, repair sidewalks, build curb ramps, repair street structures, enhance and improve the streetscape, and include transit signal upgrades in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco over the next three years. The program officially kicked off the first phase of construction with $73.4 million in funding from the Streets Bond, which was passed by voters in November and approved for appropriations by the Board of Supervisors in March.

“As we begin these infrastructure improvements as part of the voter-approved Streets Bond, we are putting San Franciscans back to work, building stronger neighborhoods and making our built environment more sustainable and livable for all residents, “ said Mayor Lee.

The funding allocation is divided into various categories with $44.1 million dedicated to the road repaving of approximately 400 City blocks in the first year. Major road renovation projects are being completed along Muni and bike routes and thoroughfares around the City; including: |

- Balboa St. (Park Presidio to Great Highway), 

- Fulton St. (Arguello to 24th Avenue) 

- 24th Street (Potrero Avenue to Guerrero Street) 

- Alemany Boulevard (Seneca to San Jose Avenue) 

- 17th Street (Dolores to Ord St.) 

- Bayshore Blvd. (Costa to Industrial and Silver to Paul Avenues) 

- San Jose (Mt. Vernon Ave to Wilson) 

- Bella Vista ( Arroyo Way to Burlwood Dr.) 

- Euclid Ave. ( Heather Ave. to Arguello Blvd.)

Another 300 blocks will also be renovated and/or slurry sealed with non-bond funded resources bringing the total amount of streets to approximately 700 in the first year. Most recently, DPW crews repaved an initial six new street blocks along 12th Street, between South Van Ness and Howard; 15th Street between Folsom and South Van Ness; 18th Street between Folsom and South Van Ness; and Greenwich Street, from Pierce to Steiner.

“Construction and road improvements have begun with work in San Francisco outrivaling any period in recent history of repaving improvements, with plans for bond funded and non-bond funded road repairs totaling approximately 2,300 city blocks over the next three years,” said Mohammed Nuru, Director of the Department of Public Works. “The funding will complete hundreds of critical capital projects throughout the City, helping to improve and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors while creating smoother and safer streets.”

In addition to repaving, $8.8 million is being allocated for the design and installation of 800 curb ramps throughout the City; $5 million is for sidewalk improvements maintained by the City that will include the inspection of 400 square blocks of the City’s most heavily traveled corridors and make repairs to 50,000 square feet of sidewalks; $5.2 million is being allocated for street structure upgrades along connectors such as Islais Creek Bridge, the 4th Street Bridge, as well as improvements to over a dozen city stairways such as the Chestnut Street Stairway and the Hidden Gardens Stairway ; and $5.6 million is going toward streetscape enhancements which is in the project selection phase. DPW is working closely with partners and stakeholders such as the SF Bicycle Coalition, SF Beautiful, WalkSF, MTA, SF Public Utilities Commission, Planning Department to develop and prioritize a list of streetscape projects throughout the City. The department is scheduled to complete this effort by the summer and present the list at the Capital Planning Committee and to the Board of Supervisors.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) will utilize $4.7 million this year for improvements to the City’s transit signal controller equipment, new traffic signals and other upgrades. Work will strategically address minimizing transit delays and enhancing transit on-time performance. SFMTA plans to implement the first phase of the planned transit signal priority along Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP) Rapid Routes totaling 600 intersections.

“MTA is committed to working in partnership with DPW and other agencies to ensure that projects are carried out seamlessly, efficiently, and with the least amount of impact to the public.” said Ed Reiskin, Executive Director of Transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. “Transit riders can expect to see improvements through new signal and traffic upgrades that will speed up service and improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and cars.”

DPW coordinates all paving projects with utility companies such as PG&E, Comcast, AT&T, SF Public Utilities Commission, and the SF Municipal Transportation Agency so that any type of underground repair work that needs to be completed is done so in coordination. This ensures that the City is minimizing inconveniences to residents and businesses; while maximizing resources.

Proposed streets to be repaved are geographically distributed around all neighborhoods in San Francisco, in planned phases over the next three years. More information about the work scope and paving plans can be found at sfdpw.org/streetsbond.

The City’s Ten-Year Capital Plan recommended the Streets Bond as part of a citywide finance strategy to address critical capital improvement needs. The Ten‐Year Capital Plan is a constrained expenditure plan for city‐owned facilities and infrastructure. Developed biennially, it enables policymakers to make strategic decisions about how to fund the maintenance, the expansion and the replacement of capital assets. The Ten‐Year Capital Plan also prioritizes critical capital projects that impact the public’s safety and well being; places strong emphasis on accountability and transparency; and most importantly demonstrates the highest levels of fiscal restraint and responsibility. For more information, visit onesanfrancisco.org.

DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services. For more information, please visit www.sfdpw.org

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