Salesforce Transit Center - Opening Date Announced

A Message from Mohammed Nuru, Board Chair

Transbay Joint Powers Authority

Salesforce Transit Center: Safe. Strong. Sustainable.

In September 2018 the Salesforce Transit Center was temporarily closed as a precaution after fissures were found in two beams on the bus deck of the new, four-block-long, one million-square-foot facility. I am happy to report that the problem has been fixed and we can move forward with reopening the facility, which independent experts have deemed to be safe, resilient and ready to resume operations to serve the Bay Area.

Our Commitment

We committed to reopening the facility only after determining the cause of the fissures, repairing the affected area, performing a facility-wide review, and fully cooperating with an independent review. I am happy to report that all of these steps are now complete and the Salesforce Transit Center will reopen to the public on July 1. Local bus service out of the street level bus plaza will resume in early July and regional bus service from the third level bus deck will resume later this summer.

Independent Review

Public safety is at the core of our work. I would like to apologize to our transit riders and to the public for the inconvenience they experienced due to the closure. As a taxpayer-funded project, we are held to a high standard in design, engineering, and construction excellence. We know we let you down. Be assured that the problem was addressed with thorough, proper, and independent oversight and all have concluded that the issue was localized to the Fremont Street location. I would like to thank San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf for requesting the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s independent review. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has affirmed that the center can now reopen. We are thankful for the expert, independent review.

Moving Forward

The transit center is a safe, strong and sustainable facility and we are eager to welcome you back. From our five-acre world class rooftop park complete with year-round free events and activities to our acclaimed public art program to efficient and reliable transit options, there are many reasons to come to Salesforce Transit Center.

With Appreciation

For information about park activities, new services, hours of operation, and the temporary closure, please go to salesforcetransitcenter.com. Again, thank you for your patience as we carried out all of the steps necessary to reopen the transit center and welcome you back.

Best regards,

Mohammed Nuru
Board Chair, Transbay Joint Powers Authority

SFPUC Onsite Water Reuse Program - Networking Event on June 25th

The SFPUC is holding an upcoming event to provide the development, design, engineering, and building communities with more information about their Onsite Water Reuse Program.

Details

Click on the image to enlarge

Background

In September 2012, the City and County of San Francisco adopted the Onsite Water Reuse for Commercial, Multi-family, and Mixed Use Development Ordinance. Commonly known as the Non-potable Water Ordinance, it added Article 12C to the San Francisco Health Code, allowing for the collection, treatment, and use of alternate water sources for non-potable applications in individual buildings and at the district-scale.

The SFPUC is working on state and national efforts to establish guidance and policy frameworks to help local jurisdictions overcome barriers for onsite water reuse. The National Blue Ribbon Commission was established to craft model state policy and develop resources to demonstrate how onsite non-potable water systems can help utilities meet One Water goals.

SF72: Heat Advisory for the Bay Area on Sunday June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

From our partners at the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (SFDEM and SF72):

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the Bay Area on Sunday June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. In San Francisco, temperatures may reach high 80s to low 90s. If you are traveling to inland parts of the Bay Area temperatures may exceed 100 degrees.

Keep heat safety in mind as temperatures rise:

• Drink plenty of water, wear a hat if you go outside and apply sunscreen.
• Never leave kids/pets in a vehicle for any reason for any length of time. Temperatures will rapidly rise to dangerous levels. If headed to the beach, remember that rip currents are always a danger.
• Check on neighbors, friends and family that may be sensitive to heat. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone you know is having a medical emergency.

Sign up for emergency alerts by texting your zip code to 888-777.

More information can be found by clicking here.

Public Hearing Regarding the Adoption of Regulations for the Refuse Separation Ordinance - June 13, 2019; Written Comments Due by June 12th

UPDATE - June 4, 2019

Click here for an announcement for regulations drafted by the Department of the Environment to address adequate capacity of zero waste facilitators in the Refuse Separation Ordinance (RSO).

Written comments are due June 12th at 5:00 p.m. to RSOCompliance@sfgov.org, and there will be a public hearing on these regulations on June 13th at 10:00 a.m. at Room 412 at San Francisco's City Hall.

The Refuse Separation Ordinance was signed by Mayor London Breed on December 21, 2018 and is effective on July 1, 2019. The RSO amends Environment Code Chapter 19 (Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance No.100-09). The Director of the Department of the Environment promulgates these regulations pursuant to the Director’s authority to adopt forms, regulations and guidelines under the Environment Code Section 1909(a) to implement that Chapter. Any section numbers in these regulations refer to Environment Code Chapter 19.

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UPDATE - April 10, 2019

A law was enacted recently that affects large refuse generators (LRGs) in San Francisco. LRGs are those that have a roll-off compactor or at least 40 cubic yards of uncompacted refuse (recyclables, compostables, and trash) per week. When any type of compactor is used, the volume of compacted refuse shall be multiplied times three to determine actual volume collected.

The measure mandates that LRGs will be subject to visual inspection audits of their refuse not less than every three years. The Director of the Department of Environment would issue to those large refuse generators found non-compliant a notice and order to comply with the Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (details below).

This ordinance will also require such non-compliant LRGs to appoint or otherwise engage staff or contractors whose exclusive function is to serve as zero waste facilitators, for a minimum of 24 consecutive months, upon receiving a Director’s notice and order. A zero waste facilitator is a person serving exclusively in the capacity to manage refuse material sorting and movement. After 24 consecutive months of compliance with the Director’s notice and order, a large refuse generator would be subject to a follow-up audit.

Most BOMA San Francisco members are considered LRGs and should review the ordinance thoroughly. Imperative and helpful information is available via our partners at the Department of the Environment and Recology. 

Questions, please reach out to johnb@boma.com

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BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - April 6, 2011

Please click here to review the final Commercial Office Building Recycling and Composting Program Guidelines.  Also please click here to review the Commercial Office Building Compliance Toolkit.

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Original Post - June 11, 2010

As we have posted on the blog previously, San Francisco now has a city-wide mandatory recycling and composting requirement. There are five mandatory areas that property managers need to address in the ordinance:

• Sign-up and pay for adequate recycling, composting and trash service.
• Have the appropriate number, color and size containers placed close together in convenient locations at your site.
• Educate and train tenants and employees on the program.
• Work with the hired janitorial staff or contractors to create an effective program.
• Make sure your building is participating in separating materials.

There could be fines for buildings that do not provide an adequate program (#1-4 above), but there will not be fines for buildings that do not properly separate all materials until at least July 1, 2011.

Please click here to review the ordinance and here for FAQs.  Contact the San Francisco Department of the Environment at (415) 355-3768 if you need assistance in starting a recycling and composting program to comply with the new law.

BOMA San Francisco's Trip to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir & San Francisco's Annual Water Quality Report

Click on the image for more pictures of the trip.

BOMA San Francisco member leaders were treated to a tour of the San Francisco Hetch Hetchy water system recently. Click here to here to review the 2018 Annual Water Quality Report.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) manages a complex water supply system stretching from the Sierra to the City and featuring a complex series of reservoirs, tunnels, pipelines, and treatment systems. Two unique features of this system stand out: the drinking water provided is among the purest in the world; and the system for delivering that water is almost entirely gravity fed, requiring almost no fossil fuel consumption to move water from the mountains to our tap.

The SFPUC is the third largest municipal utility in California, serving 2.7 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Bay Area. Approximately one-third of the delivered water goes to retail customers in San Francisco, while wholesale deliveries to 27 suburban agencies in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties comprise the other two-thirds.

Click on the image to enlarge.

About Hetch Hetchy Power

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) owns and operates the Hetch Hetchy Power System. Our facilities have been generating some of the cleanest energy available in California since 1918. Water flows downhill as it travels 167 miles from Yosemite to 2.7 million people throughout the Bay Area, and we put it to work by harnessing the natural forces of gravity-driven water to generate 100% greenhouse gas-free hydroelectric power.

This clean Hetch Hetchy Power, along with renewable power that we generate locally from solar and biogas facilities, energizes vital San Francisco services as well as a growing number of residential and commercial customers. All in all, we provide about 17% of San Francisco’s total electricity.