South San Francisco · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in South San Francisco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
Chestnut Avenue Intersection Median Safety Concerns
A resident on Parkway and Eucalyptus said new intersection medians were installed without notifying neighbors, are blocking buses and possibly fire trucks, and are forcing children to cross in unsafe spots. She asked the council to look at the 700 block of Chestnut.
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.
Capital Improvement Program FY 2026-27
About $20 million in new capital spending is proposed, led by parks, streets and traffic safety — including a $3.8 million Orange Memorial Park playground replacement, $3 million in street resurfacing, and battery backups at 50 traffic signals.
Bike for Boulevards Project (Junipero Serra and Westboro)
The buffered bike lane project on Junipero Serra Boulevard was finished at a construction cost of $372,949.50, and the council was set to formally accept the work. It adds separation between cyclists and car traffic on a busy corridor.
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.
Regional transit funding measure (SB 63 Connect Bay Area)
A potential half-cent sales tax on the November ballot could deliver roughly $50 million a year to San Mateo County transit for 14 years, helping avoid major Caltrain, BART, and Muni cuts. The public survey closes April 30.
School-area traffic and transportation safety
The committee was scheduled to hear from Public Works on safety improvements around school sites. Safer streets near schools affect daily walks, bike rides and drop-offs for thousands of South San Francisco families.