Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in South San Francisco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
13 issues in roads
Vision Zero Action Plan
An update on the Safe Routes to School program, which makes walking and biking to school safer for students and families.
Chestnut Avenue Intersection Median Safety Concerns
A 60-year resident says the new traffic islands on her neighborhood streets are nearly invisible at night, narrow the roads, and were installed without resident input.
Grand Boulevard Initiative Phase III completion
The Grand Boulevard Phase III street improvements were scheduled to be formally accepted as complete, wrapping up a roughly $4.75 million construction project on a key city corridor.
Caltrain fiscal crisis
Caltrain is thriving at South San Francisco — ridership is over 200% of pre-COVID — but faces a $75 million annual deficit as farebox recovery has fallen from 70% to 30%. Without new funding, weekend service and more could be cut.
Downtown parking and the new Linden-Pine park
The long-planned Old Town park is finally moving to construction — two parcels will become one connected park with playground, fitness areas, lawn, and event plaza. Groundbreaking is expected within weeks and ribbon cutting in early 2027.
South Linden Avenue and Scott Street Grade Separation
The Caltrain grade separation project just got cheaper and faster: total cost dropped from $450 million to $320 million and construction time from seven years to three, thanks to value engineering. The council approved an extra $804,408 in local match — from impact fees, not the general fund — to keep preliminary design moving and position the project for grants.
TDM monitoring and enforcement of commute-reduction rules
The city tracks whether big developments actually reduce car trips, now using the OneCommute platform across 46 sites. Some sites remain non-compliant, and commissioners want real consequences; a fine framework may go to the City Council late this year or early 2027.
Capital Improvement Program FY 2026-27
The city plans $16 million in new capital spending this year across 30 projects — a new inclusive playground at Orange Memorial Park, street repaving, fire station fixes, flood protection, and traffic safety upgrades — mostly paid from dedicated funds rather than the general fund.
Bike for Boulevards Project (Junipero Serra and Westboro)
The city is planning protected bike and pedestrian facilities along two fast, hostile corridors, including a path in the center median near the I-280 ramps and possibly reopening the closed Clay Street intersection. It's in the environmental phase now, with construction possibly around 2030 if funding holds.
Centennial Trail connection to Kaiser
Residents keep asking for a bike/ped link from Centennial Trail to Kaiser, but it would require a bridge over Colma Creek and a partnership with Kaiser. Staff acknowledged the gap and will gather more information.
El Camino Real Mobility Plan
El Camino Real is the most dangerous street in the Bay Area for deaths and serious injuries, and its main bus route carries the most low-income riders in the region. The city is choosing between wider sidewalks, a dedicated bus lane, or a bike lane — commissioners leaned toward the bike option — with a council decision expected July 8.
East of 101 roads and infrastructure funding
With the CFD on pause, the city is chasing grants and layering funding to tackle over $30 million in pavement needs east of 101 — roads cyclists and new employers are calling an embarrassment.
Community-Based Transportation Plan for South City
A regional plan built from resident input targets better shuttles, safer crossings near schools, cheaper transit connections, and completing the Centennial Trail to Caltrain.