For Immediate Release
May 24, 2006
Contact: Christine Falvey
Tel: (415) 554-6920
***PRESS RELEASE***
San Francisco Public Works Conducts Road Paving Show
Department uses first of $15 million surplus.
Roadway is the first to be repaved with City's General Fund in nearly 20 years.
Click here to view photos.
San Francisco, Ca – The San Francisco Department of Public Works showcased its road paving capabilities today on Valdez Street in the City's Monterey Heights neighborhood. Valdez Street is the first street to be paved in San Francisco using the City's general funds in nearly 20 years.
The department received $15 million in surplus funding this year to increase its road resurfacing program. Nearly 200 blocks will be paved throughout the City, one of which has not been repaved since the 1960s. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, who represents District 7, was instrumental in securing the additional funding for road resurfacing and was present to assist crews as they paved the first block of Valdez Street.
"It is our obligation to maintain and improve our City's infrastructure for our residents and for future generations of San Franciscans. A sound investment in road resurfacing today will result in savings by allowing us to avoid costly emergencies tomorrow," said Supervisor Sean Elsbernd.
On Monday, Mayor Newsom highlighted several initiatives in his proposed $135 million infrastructure investment for FY 2006-2007 budget that will improve San Francisco's major streetscapes with $7.7 million in funding included for street repairs.
For many years, San Francisco has experienced funding shortfalls for street maintenance and improvements. As a result, the condition of the City's street infrastructure has steadily worsened causing potholes and pavement failures. Funds have been used for emergency repair rather than preventative maintenance and strategic capital improvement.
Pavement deterioration affects all users of the streets of San Francisco, said Dr. Fred Abadi, Director of Public Works. A properly funded street repaving program results in a smooth ride for transit riders, bicyclists, and motorists, not to mention pedestrians, he added. Deferring local street repair and maintenance hurts San Franciscans by increasing their tax burden in the future and diminishing their quality of life.
DPW conducted the paving demonstration during National Public Works Week (May 21st to May 27th), a national celebration instituted by the American Public Works Association (APWA) in 1960. Public Works Week calls attention to the importance of public works in community life. The Week seeks to enhance the prestige of the often–unsung heroes of our society–the professionals who serve the public good every day with quiet dedication.
The San Francisco Department of Public Works 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-owned street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities, conducts sidewalk and roadway inspections, constructs curb ramps, provides mechanical and manual street cleaning, removes graffiti from public property, and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to accomplish above baseline cleaning and greening services. With an annual budget of $170 million (excluding capital projects) and a workforce of 1,500 employees, DPW serves approximately 850,000 residents and a commuter population of well over two million every day.
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