After city and transportation officials approved the project earlier this year, construction crews have been preparing for the demolition and construction of Muni’s new Potrero bus yard.
Staff from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the main contractor, Webcor, provided the community with a construction update during an Oct. 21 meeting on Zoom. Tim Kempf, the program director for the Potrero project with the SFMTA, said the transportation agency handed the site over to Webcor in July so crews could begin preparing to demolish and construct the yard.
Preparation work included removing the overhead contact system inside and outside the yard, trenching and undergrounding electrical and low-voltage cables, and surveying the project site to verify existing plans. Webcor Project Director Erik Biczkow said that as of October, crews have completed removing the overhead wires and capping and cutting the gas service.
Other work this month and next includes undergrounding electrical and low-voltage cables along Mariposa, Bryant, and Hampshire streets. In the coming months, crews will also prepare to fence the area for demolition and cut and cap water-related utilities.
Demolition and construction of the yard will begin early next year and is expected to continue through 2030.
Bickzkow said Webcor will work with surrounding neighborhoods and communities to minimize impacts during yard construction. Construction hours will primarily take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Overnight construction will take place from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. There could also be intermittent construction work on weekends. Those driving in the area can expect the shifting of traffic lanes in the project area of Mariposa, Bryant, 17th, and Hampshire streets
Once completed, the yard will house up to 246 Muni electric trolley buses, new maintenance bays, and bus washing stations when the yard opens in 2030 for service. Other amenities of the project include a community room that could be used with advance reservations, a public restroom near Franklin Square Park, bike upgrades on 17th Street between Bryant and Hampshire, and wider sidewalks
SFMTA Public Information Officer John Angelico said that before the 111-year-old yard closed back in February, the yard, which was designed to house 138 buses, was home to 150 buses.
The 5-Fulton, 5R-Fulton Rapid, 14-Mission, 22-Fillmore, 30-Stockton and 49-Van/Ness routes called the yard home. The routes have since moved to other Muni yards.
While housing is no longer part of the plan on top of the yard, there are plans to construct 100 housing units along Bryant Street.
During construction, community members can reach out to staff for construction updates or complaints.
For noise and vibration complaints, people can call 415-234-8190 or email PotreroYardSF@webcor.com. Anyone with questions about the construction can email PotreroYard@plenaryamericas.com.
