SFO and city officials tout airport improvements, sister-city ties and Bike to Work Day at public events

City and airport officials used a public program on May 21 to highlight a 10-year capital plan for San Francisco International Airport and a suite of civic events celebrating bicycling.

Airport leadership described a multi-year program to expand and upgrade terminals (Terminal 2-level experience), a planned 400-room on-airport hotel, and phased improvements to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with Boarding Area E scheduled to open in early 2014. Speakers noted Terminal 2's high concession rent per passenger and said the program would be design-build and aim for local DBE participation and a project labor agreement.

Separately, San Francisco and Barcelona officials signed an addendum to a sister-city memorandum of understanding to expand collaboration on smart cities, mobility, culture and economic development; Barcelona's mayor and delegation were present for remarks and the signing.

At a related Bike to Work Day program, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and city leaders, including the mayor and multiple supervisors, celebrated rising bicycling rates (cited as 71% more riders than five years earlier), new bike counters on Market Street, and recent protected bicycle infrastructure such as Oak Street. Speakers from the Board of Supervisors and MTA encouraged faster investment in bike infrastructure and highlighted regional bike-share plans.

The events combined civic promotion of major capital projects, international partnership and active-transportation advocacy; they included an awards presentation to local companies supporting bicycling.