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Port projects $55M in near-term capital spending; seawall remains generational challenge
Summary
Interim Port Director Elaine Forbes told the Budget & Finance Committee the Port expects revenue growth and will invest about $55.2 million in capital projects over two years, while flagging a multibillion-dollar seawall resiliency need; staff also highlighted industrial preservation goals and LBE contracting performance.
Elaine Forbes, interim Port Director, told the committee the Port is experiencing revenue growth (projected ~8.1% in FY17) and plans approximately $55.2 million in capital investments over the next two years. The Port’s operating revenue is approaching $100 million and staff said they are setting aside a larger share of revenue to fund capital needs and maintenance rather than expand operating costs.
Priority projects include life‑safety and structural repairs, maintenance crew expansion to address backlog, design work for a Mission Bay ferry terminal (estimated ~$42 million project at build), and investments to preserve maritime industrial land and jobs. Port staff highlighted an increased in-house maintenance capability (pile-driving, concrete crews) to accelerate repairs.
The Port emphasized the seawall program as an urgent, generational infrastructure need: a full seawall replacement could cost $2–3 billion, while a prioritized life‑safety subset might be in the order of $500 million. The Port is coordinating with the Mayor’s Office and committees to plan funding and timelines.
The committee asked about a pending Alcatraz ferry service negotiation and Port staff said they expect a negotiated deal before the Port Commission in April. No public vote was taken; the Port’s budget update will return to the Board for adoption later in the process.
