Public Works details 31 active CIP projects; council warns of funding gaps for Safer Bay and university overcrossing costs

Public Works Director Hamza Javed briefed the council Feb. 18 on the city’s Capital Improvement Program for FY24–25, stating the engineering division manages 31 active projects in conceptual, design, construction and closeout phases.

Javed listed conceptual work (a water tank siting study, Railspur Trail improvements, University Avenue Grand Corridor, O'Connor Pump Station Phase 1), 11 projects in design (University Avenue signal improvements; Rutgers Trail Gate with MidPen; Cummings Loft; Newell Bridge replacement in Palo Alto partnership), and projects in construction including the University Avenue 101 pedestrian overcrossing, which Javed said faces design‑coordination delays with Caltrans and may generate additional soft costs. He also described San Francisco Creek Reach 2 and Safer Bay projects (flood‑protection levees) being redesigned and noted a significant question mark: the city has not yet secured a majority of construction funding for Safer Bay’s components.

Public commenters and council members raised near‑term maintenance and signage issues (potholes on Woodland, incomplete street‑sweeping signage) and urged the department to consider intermediate repair contracts and clear timelines in project tables. Javed said staff will return with more detail on potential change‑orders and claims related to the overcrossing in the coming weeks and will coordinate with funding partners to clarify responsibilities for large projects such as Safer Bay and Reach 2.