A group from the San Francisco Transit Riders touring the Potrero Yard. Public tours are usually offered monthly.
We’re one step closer to a new Potrero Bus Yard
The Potrero Yard Modernization Project marked a key milestone this month. On Dec. 10, 2024, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the preliminary Project Agreement for the new Potrero Bus Yard. This is the SFMTA's first public-private partnership. The agreement is with the Lead Developer, Potrero Neighborhood Collective (PNC).
The project will replace an outdated bus yard with a modern, four-story bus maintenance and storage facility.
The new space will be more efficient. Repairs to buses will be faster, and this will help make your Muni rides more reliable.
The new facility will also help us transition to an all-electric fleet. This way, we can reduce emissions and protect the environment.
The next step for the project is to select the Design-Build contractor who will build the bus facility. Once the selection process is completed, the Project Agreement will be finalized to include the bus yard's fixed price. The final agreement is expected to be considered by both the SFMTA Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors for approval in spring 2025.
Potrero Neighborhood Collective also continues to advance the project’s affordable housing component. A separate housing agreement is anticipated in spring 2025 as well.
Conceptual rendering of Potrero Yard Modernization Project, looking southeast. The intersection near the bottom of image is 17th and Bryant streets. (Ardadis/IBI Group)
Bus Yard agreement is unique
The agreement:
- Creates bus transit infrastructure that will be integrated with housing and commercial spaces. This has never been tried in the U.S.
- Outlines the bus yard commitments to local hiring and economic inclusion.
- Uses a novel approach to financing, operating and maintaining the bus yard. The Lead Developer will operate and maintain the new building for 30 years. At the end of 30 years, the facility must be in 80%-like-new condition.
- Specifies that the Lead Developer would be responsible for any potential increased costs or project delays, not the city. This allows our agency to move the project forward with minimal risk of impacts from growing costs like inflation.
Key milestones of 2024
The Potrero Yard Modernization Project has made a lot of progress in 2024. Some additional key milestones include:
- January: Environmental Clearance. In January 2024, the SF Planning Commission voted to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- March: Entitlements Granted. In March, Mayor London Breed signed legislation to approve Entitlements for the Project. This followed unanimous approval by the Board of Supervisors. The Entitlements legislation amends the General Plan, Planning Code and Zoning Map. The approval allows the project to reach up to 150 feet. It also allows housing and commercial spaces to be built on the site, which was once zoned just for transit use.
Timeline for the Potrero Yard Modernization Project. Construction of the new bus yard is expected to start in 2025.
Hear from SFMTA staff: new video
Check out the video below to learn more about this recent milestone. You’ll hear from maintenance staff who work at Potrero Yard. They understand firsthand how a new yard will improve San Francisco transit as well as the working conditions for staff.
Stay tuned in 2025! We plan to kick-off the construction phase of the project next year. We will say goodbye to the historic yard and break ground to build the new facility.
For more information about the Potrero Yard Modernization Project, visit the project website (SFMTA.com/PotreroYard).
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