San Francisco County Quarterly Caltrans Update

Welcome to the San Francisco County Caltrans E-Newsletter!

Welcome to our Spring/Summer newsletter, which is dedicated to informing you about developments concerning Caltrans properties and highways in San Francisco County!

With warmer weather and longer days ahead, San Francisco is buzzing with energy. Spring and summer offer countless opportunities to explore San Francisco; there are tons to do, whether strolling through Golden Gate Park, wading along Baker Beach, attending a live Jazz session, visiting one or all of SF's magnificent museums, or one of a number of other exciting activities. This newsletter will help keep you abreast of Caltrans projects and developments to make your journey to every San Francisco County destination as smooth as possible.

In this issue, read about the successful completion of the partial repaving project on 19th Avenue between Sloat Boulevard and Santiago Street, and we have new data showing fewer unhoused people living on SF streets. Also, read about the recent fire drill and sprinkler system testing that took place on Yerba Buena Island, part of the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and more.

As we embrace summer, let's prioritize safe driving habits, especially with children out of school. Let's stay vigilant behind the wheel to ensure the safety of every pedestrian, motorist, and cyclist.

Thank you for your continued support.

--Lori Shepherd, Caltrans Public Information Officer, SF County

In Six Hours

The image on the left captures the rugged wear and tear that San Francisco on ramps, roads, and freeways experience. This picture shows how the Bayshore on ramp to NB101 appeared just weeks ago. But in six hours, it was meticulously repaved between morning and afternoon rush hour commutes. See below.

The finished repaving work is an example of the unrelenting effort of Caltrans’s Bay Area’s San Francisco maintenance crew to repair the city’s roads and freeways. Their job is rigorous and often dangerous, but essential to supporting safe driving conditions for motorists and pedestrians throughout the Bay Area. Not only does the maintenance crew help us to experience smoother and safer driving surfaces like the one captured in the “after”, but they also add to San Francisco’s overall iconic beauty.

"The road deterioration along 19th near Sloat, made the ride rough and bumpy. But… that’s all improved."

19th Ave. Near Sloat: Much Better

Are you a San Francisco commuter near 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard who is heading to Stern Grove this summer for a free afternoon concert, or are you planning a family outing at Golden Gate Park? Maybe you care most about arriving home or to the office on time each day, which requires you to drive northbound from Sloat Boulevard to Santiago Street. Whatever your reason or destination, you will find driving along these five blocks are now significantly smoother than they have been for some time. Why? This is because the Caltrans Construction team just wrapped up an emergency repaving project to refresh a very weathered, five-block stretch.

If you're a regular on this road, you may know why this project was designated an emergency. "The road deterioration which had accumulated over many years made the drive rough and bumpy," said Charles Koos, Caltrans Resident Engineer. "But, as of a few days ago, those five blocks are smoother and safer."

The Resident Engineer said these recent repairs are a precursor to a broader project scheduled for 19th Avenue in Spring 2025. This project will include repaving north and southbound directions which extend from San Francisco State University to Golden Gate Park. Stay tuned for updates on this upcoming project at https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4.

Is San Francisco Homelessness Easing?

In a city where innovation and progress are part of its very fabric, the recent findings from the San Francisco biennial homeless count conducted in January 2024 bring hope and a cause for celebration. As Caltrans District 4 Bay Area, we are proud to witness a significant milestone in our collective effort to address homelessness, with a commendable 13 percent drop in the number of people living on the streets over the past decade.

The fight against homelessness speaks to the importance remaining committed to helping to solve homelessness. It is a journey that we have embarked on together, with various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, community leaders, and compassionate individuals all playing a crucial role. Beginning in November 2022, Caltrans Bay Area Encampment Engagement, the first dedicated district level branch in the agency, began to partner monthly, collaboratively addressing homelessness solution priorities within the City and County of San Francisco on State Right of Way.

This collaboration is a testament to the effectiveness of our multi-faceted approach and to the strength of our unity in tackling complex social issues.

Over the years, Caltrans District 4 Bay Area has been vocal and active about the issues impacting the unhoused and the broader community. Through strategic investments in infrastructure, transportation, and urban planning, we have endeavored to create inclusive and accessible environments that promote opportunity for all residents.

Bay Bridge Fire Drill Success

Firefighters performing fire drill on the Bay Bridge. Caltrans Bay Area led on an early summer morning Bay Bridge fire drill recently coordinated with Bay Area first responders. Together, they achieved a meticulously planned fire drill and testing exercise on the new Yerba Buena Island Tunnel fire sprinkler system.

With partial lane closures of Interstate 80 (I-80) Bay Bridge, the collaborative effort involved teams from Caltrans, California Highway Patrol (CHP), CalFire, San Francisco Fire Department, Oakland Fire Department, and the San Francisco Water Department.

The drill started at 5 AM on Sunday, June 2, and lasted until 12:01 PM, providing a seamless execution while ensuring that motorists retained access to most lanes throughout the morning. This strategic decision highlights the prioritization of public safety and minimal disruption to everyday commuter routines.

"This exercise primarily focused on testing the functionality and efficacy of the newly installed fire sprinkler system on Yerba Buena Island," said Byron Lim, Caltrans Project Engineer Office Chief, Maintenance Performance. "This system is a critical component in the region's infrastructure resilience strategy. However, it also involved broader objectives, including evaluating the effectiveness of Bay Bridge Standpipes (hydrants) and refining radio communications protocols among fire personnel."

Such drills are essential for ensuring the readiness of emergency response teams and enhancing interagency collaboration and communication. By simulating a real-life scenario in a controlled environment, first responders can identify potential weaknesses, fine-tune response protocols, and streamline coordination efforts, ultimately enhancing their ability to mitigate emergencies effectively.

Moreover, multiple agencies participating underscore the significance of a unified approach to emergency preparedness and response. "We're happy with the collaborative effort of all participating first responders on June 2, and confident in the performance of the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel's new sprinkler systems," he said.

Fun Facts about San Francisco Roads

Fact # 1 - Did you know that Lombard Street (Hwy 101) connects to Park Presidio via Richardson Avenue? Richardson is such a short span of road that most motorists may not notice the transition.

Fact #2 - Also, did you know that Van Ness and Lombard are also US Highway 101? It’s true, even though they seem to be city streets. However, you won’t see many Caltrans trucks on these state highways because Caltrans and San Francisco have a legal agreement where the City maintains these routes in exchange for payment from the state.

Btw: do you have any little known, quirky, or interesting facts about San Francisco roads? If you do, tell us and we will possibly publish them in the next newsletter.

Enjoy your summer, drive safely, watch out for Caltrans crews, motorists, and pedestrians!

The San Francisco County newsletter will be distributed on a quarterly schedule.

For 24/7 traffic updates, please visit 511.org or https://twitter.com/511SFBay
For real-time information, please visit Caltrans QuickMap: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov