Top 5 Infrastructure Projects in Pacifica That Will Affect Your Daily Life

Last week at a Lunch ‘n' Learn event sponsored by the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce held at Nick’s Restaurant, Pacifica City Councilman Mike O’Neill presented an informative session highlighting public infrastructure projects that will have a direct impact on the daily lives of Pacificans.

The purpose of the presentation was to outline the funding and costs of each project, explain what’s in the works and discuss with citizens what the City of Pacifica is planning and working on now.

“These are quality of life issues we are dealing with,” said O’Neill to the audience. “To be transparent and open the dialogue for what’s happening and why will help more Pacificans understand that Pacifica is a middle aged city and like each of us, it needs repair and upkeep.”

O’Neill explained that Pacifica was incorporated in 1957, marking the city at 56 years old. Most of the infrastructure was built during or before the post WWII building boom, he said.

“Band aids do not work or serve the need of the job that needs to be done,” said O’Neill. “There are new regulations due to environmental, regional transportation, employment and resource pressures that Pacifica needs to address.”

A timeline shows that there will be a lot of construction and renovation going on in Pacifica not only this year, but also mostly in 2014 and 2015 when the bulk of the projects will be executed.

Amazingly, all of the projects are paid for from grants, Measure A funds, bond measures, and annual fees and taxes. The only momuental unfunded project that Pacifica faces today is street repair throughout the entire city.

While an ongoing project, deferred maintenance is making the repairs and replacement more expensive the longer the city waits. With state funding becoming scarcer, Pacifica's 90 plus miles of streets will not get the attention they need, said O'Neill.

In the meantime, here are the top 5 projects coming your way:    

Highway 1 Modernization
Cost: $57 million
Funding: Funded by Measure A funds
What: A 1.3-mile stretch on Highway 1 between Fassler Avenue and Reina Del Mar is slated for a redesign to relieve traffic and congestion.
When: Final EIR will be released early June 2013. When the EIR is certified by Caltrans, City Council will formally authorize the request for funding. Funding will begin the design, purchase of land and easements for whatever design is chosen. Construction would start in late 2015.

Wastewater System Upgrade
Cost: $50 million
Funding: Paid for by annual sewer fees collected with your property taxes.
What: The Orangeburg pipe has reached end of its useful life and will be replaced with a 100-year PVC pipe. The project includes an equalization basin for approximately two million gallons of runoff water from heavy rains as well as main sewer lines down the streets. A site is being researched for the basin but no final decision has been made. Also, 280 homes in Lower Linda Mar will get free replacement of sewer lateral while the main sewer line is being replaced. The works is required by legal settlement with the S.F. Regional Water Board and Our Children’s Earth lawsuit settled in 2010.
When: Currently being worked on, slated for completion early 2017.  

Beach Boulevard Redevelopment/New Library
Cost: $32 million
Funding: Bond measures, grants, and public-private partnerships
What: Redevelopment of the Beach Boulevard property with mixed use buildings that will include a new library, town homes, restaurant and hotel. When complete, the project is estimated to generate revenue of $500,000 a year from hotel, property, and sales tax. This project will kickoff the Palmetto streetscape project that will create a Main Street for Pacifica.
When: Beach Blvd development and the library are two separate projects —one can happen without the other. Currently in process with the library under construction end of 2014 and completion date end of 2015.  

San Pedro Bridge Rebuild
Cost: $16 million
Funding: Funded by Measure A funds; San Mateo voters passed a half-cent tax in 1988, then renewed the tax in 2004
What: Highway 1 near the Ace Hardware on Pedro Point will be closed to traffic for more than a year. This will allow for the replacement of the bridge over San Pedro Creek, which needs to be raised above the flood level to allow more water to flow from San Pedro Creek.
When: Starting early 2014, completing sometime in 2015.  

Palmetto Streetscape/Undergrounding
Cost: $4.5 million
Funding: The Palmetto Streetscape project will cost $2.2 million paid by Pacifica’s City Capital Improvement Fund and grants. The undergrounding, $2.3 million is paid for too, by Rule 20A funds from PG&E, which is money set aside from ratepayers for this purpose with no cost to City of Pacifica.
What: The undergrounding will take place first and will underground utilities along Palmetto with $100,000 from the ARRA Federal program for new streetlights. Then the streetscape project will follow and will include planters, street parking enclosures along the sidewalk, trees and overall enhancing the area for more of a Main Street feel.
When: The Palmetto Streetscape project won’t begin until early 2014 with an estimated completion date end of 2015. Palmetto undergrounding began in 2013 and will be complete Spring 2014.