Embarcadero seawall liaison: $170M in early projects aim to unlock federal funds; Army Corps plan pending Congress approval

The committee received an update on Feb. 10 about early projects tied to the Embarcadero seawall resilience work, intended to position the city for federal cost‑share funding.

The bond liaison said the Port has identified roughly $170 million in early design and construction projects that will support the larger seawall resilience program. He described projects such as adding or expanding seismic expansion joints at waterfront buildings, including work at the Exploratorium and nearby structures. The liaison said these early projects are intended to help the Port meet the local cost‑share required to secure federal funds — "35% local funded, and then hopefully the federal will cover the rest," he said.

Carlos Colon, the waterfront resilience contracts manager, told the committee that the $13.5 billion Army Corps program draft plan has been approved by the Army Corps of Engineers but "has not been approved yet" by Congress. Colon said the final plan will be submitted to Congress in summer 2026 and that the city is negotiating an agreement with the Army Corps (the 2021 agreement) to allow local projects to be credited toward the city’s required local contribution when federal funding becomes available. He said the work on early projects is being advanced now to be eligible for credit later.

Committee members raised questions about the timing and uncertainty of federal funding; Colon said Congress will vote on funding only after the report is submitted and the city must proceed now to build necessary early projects. The liaison also described visible sea‑level rise impacts along the Embarcadero and said the early projects will contribute to the long‑term resilience plan for roughly seven miles of waterfront.

There were no in‑person public comments during the item.