Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was in San Francisco to participate in the groundbreaking for the second phase of the Presidio Parkway project, a new six-lane roadway that will improve safety on this connection between the city of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. He joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty and other officials at the event.
"President Obama called on us to improve our infrastructure to create jobs and strengthen the economy, and that is exactly what the Presidio Parkway project will do," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Once completed, this new parkway will reduce congestion and help ensure drivers can use a safer road for decades to come."
The Presidio Parkway will provide access from San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge through the Presidio in Golden Gate National Park. More than 91,000 vehicles every day use the existing road, which serves as a primary north-south link for commuters in the area and is essential to economic growth. The new parkway will be built to withstand intense seismic activity and will replace Doyle Drive, which was built in 1936 and is at the end of its useful life because of an outdated design and seismic structure.
"This project will provide immediate benefits by putting people to work now and help support the Bay Area economy in the future," said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez.
In addition to the seismic and safety upgrades, the Presidio Parkway will have the unique design features of a true parkway, including a wider landscaped median, safer city streets, and better pedestrian access. The total project cost is estimated at $1.045 billion. Federal aid for the project includes $83 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, a $46 million TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant and a $150 million TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loan.
