Hello Potrero Yard Neighbor! We are excited to bring you Fall 2024 Updates on the transformation of the century-old Potrero Yard into a modern, efficient bus maintenance and storage facility that integrates affordable housing and retail spaces.
In This Issue:
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Project Timeline
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Project Updates
- Project Agreement Approval
- Bus Yard Infrastructure Design-Build Procurement
- Small and Disadvantaged Business Event: Meet the Primes
- Project Seeks Federal Funding
- Cultural and Historical Preservation
- Neighborhood Working Group
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Stay Connected
Where We Are
The Potrero Yard Modernization Project has made a lot of progress since the project began. In 2025, we plan to take significant steps toward building the new facility by entering into a Project Agreement with selected Developer and general contractor, organizing the relocation of yard staff to other facilities, and preparing to demolish the existing yard.
Project Updates
Bus Yard Preliminary Project Agreement Approval
In the December edition, we shared that the project received preliminary approvals by both the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board (MTAB) and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (BOS). Since this preliminary approval, the SFMTA and Lead Developer Potrero Neighborhood Collective (PNC) have continued to work toward the final Project Agreement. The SFMTA and PNC anticipate a final form of the agreement, including a firm fixed price for the Bus Yard Infrastructure Facility, later this year.
Check out the video below to learn more about this recent milestone. You’ll hear from Muni staff who work at Potrero Yard and understand firsthand how a new yard will improve San Francisco transit as well as the working conditions for current staff and operators.
Bus Yard Infrastructure Design-Build Procurement
PNC is excited to announce Webcor as the selected Prime Contractor for the Bus Yard Infrastructure Facility. Based in San Francisco, Webcor is known for building modern transportation hubs throughout California and beyond. Webcor is joined by Lead Designer Arcadis, who has been involved in the project since 2022. Arcadis will continue to advance the Bus Yard architecture and design in collaboration with Webcor.
PNC is closely collaborating with the Design-Build team to put forth a competitive fixed price and fixed schedule for the project. Upon receiving final approvals from the city, PNC and the SFMTA will work together to relocate the Potrero Yard fleet and operations and prepare for demolition.
On Friday, February 7, PNC hosted local and regional Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) at a Meet the Primes event at the Verdi Club, located just down the street from Potrero Yard. Over 100 construction and professional service firms attended, marking an exciting milestone for the project and the small business community. Attendees networked with PNC (Lead Developer), Webcor (General Contractor) and Arcadis (Lead Designer), asked questions, and received information about the Bus Yard Infrastructure Facility. Additionally, the California Department of General Services was present to guide businesses through the small business certification and recertification processes.
The final SBE/DBE Plan was made available in December 2024 and can be found on the project webpage here.
(A separate business inclusion plan for the Housing and Commercial Component of the Potrero Yard Modernization Project will be developed at a later date.)
Over 100 local and regional firms attended the Meet the Primes event, marking a project milestone in the development of the Bus Yard Infrastructure Facility.
PNC and Webcor representatives presented Bus Yard Infrastructure Facility procurement requirements and next steps at the Meet the Primes event.
Construction and professional service attendees received support for state certification and recertification from the Department of General Services representative.
The SFMTA intends to apply for a federal grant this year to supplement existing federal support of modernizing Potrero Yard. The team has been joining various legislative staffers on tours of Potrero Yard to support advocacy at the federal level.
We shared with federal representatives that this project is shovel ready with a private developer selected and to be responsible for investing their own equity and debt-financing into the project, a selected Design-Build team, and advanced architectural drawings.
The redevelopment of Potrero Yard into a modern, safe, and efficient bus maintenance facility is a critical investment in both the city’s and U.S. Department of Transportation’s shared priorities. For example, the yard will be built for efficiency and powered by American energy. For over 100 years, the Hetch Hetchy dam has provided clean, reliable hydroelectric power to San Francisco. This project will ensure this stable energy source continues to power Muni’s trolley bus fleet, providing clean transit service for about 111,000 riders daily.
Cultural and Historical Preservation
As part of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), there are several mitigation measures that the project team is required to conduct to preserve the culture and history of the site, including any artifacts that are uncovered during the site excavation. PNC is working closely with the San Francisco Planning Department and the Environmental Science Associates (ESA) consultant team to ensure compliance with the FEIR.
Under the FEIR, PNC is:
- Documenting historical resources that may be found during site excavation (M-CR-1a, for more information see p. 4 of Mitigation Monitoring And Reporting Program: Mitigation, Improvement & Public Works Standard Construction Measures);
- Developing a Salvage Plan to identify if any materials of historical interest can be salvaged before demolition (M-CR-1b, see p. 6);
- Identifying an onsite publicly accessible location to display historical resource (M-CR-1c, see p. 6); and
- Completing an oral histories project that includes interviews of former SFMTA employees and other community members (M-CR-1d, see p. 7).
One of the most recent examples of preserving Potrero Yard’s culture and history is a video documenting the history of the Potrero Yard. Watch the video on YouTube here.
PNC’s efforts to fulfill the Cultural Resources mitigation measures are possible with support and contributions from the community. Thank you to the following individuals who contributed to the project directly:
- David Banbury (retired), Division Manager and Former Superintendent of Potrero Yard, SFMTA
- Erick Arguello, Co-Founder and President, Calle 24 Cultural District
- George Parks, Operator and Potrero Yard Control Tower, SFMTA
- Nelson Doon, Maintenance Supervisor of Potrero Yard, SFMTA
- Paul Bignardi, Transportation Planner, SFMTA
- Peter Bratt, Project Lead for the Village SF Initiative, Friendship House Association of American Indians
- Ron Mitchell, Operator and Joint Labor Management Board Facilitator, SFMTA
- Sharaya Souza, American Indian Cultural District
Neighborhood Working Group
In 2025 the Neighborhood Working Group will meet on the second Tuesday of every other month at 5:30 p.m. beginning in February. These meetings will remain in a hybrid format and are open to the public. The next Neighborhood Working Group meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 - view the meeting schedule here for details.
The Potrero Yard Neighborhood Working Group has two (2) vacancies.
- Youth Serving Organization
- Senior Serving Organization
If you feel your affiliations and work relate to these areas of interest, we encourage you to apply to join the Working Group. Please use the standard Working Group application form to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis to fill vacant seats as quickly as possible.
The Working Group, which formed in 2018, brings together community members to work with SFMTA staff and the Potrero Neighborhood Collective (PNC) developer team to shape public outreach, weigh in on elements of the project design, and inform the design and program of joint development (housing and commercial areas).
Feedback from the Working Group ensures that diverse viewpoints are considered and incorporated into the decision making for Potrero Yard.
Please share these opportunities with your networks!
Stay Connected
The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Meetings are held both in person and virtually and are open to the general public. Learn more about how to attend the Working Group Meeting here.
Upcoming Potrero Yard Tours
Portrero Yard tour, 2019.
Learn more about the Potrero Yard Modernization Project by joining us for a tour of Potrero Yard. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how a transit yard works and see why our 110-year-old yard needs to be rebuilt. Reserve your space now:
We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to your continued involvement in shaping the Potrero Yard Modernization Project. For inquiries, please reach out to:
PotreroYard@plenaryamericas.com
PotreroYard@sfmta.com
(415) 646-2223
SFMTA.com/PotreroYard