at least a year earlier than originally anticipated. in this day and age, that says a great deal. it is very important to us. we put safety first. we decided that for access to the golden gate bridge from san francisco it is not safe to continue a facility whose federal structural rating was two out of 100. it will not achieve its efficiency rating of 30 after 100 after extensive costly stopgap work on the high volume deck. the new parkway will be a facility for the 21st century, designed for sustainability. this will set a new standard for public works of its kind by recycling every cubic inch of the demolition materials, by fairly treating all water runoff from the roadway itself, by reducing impact on the spectacular views, and i finally

allowing direct access to the presidio for buses, pedestrians, and cyclists in addition to automobiles. that matters a great deal for us. it lies in our constituency of san francisco endeavoring to be america's greenest city. it is the result of a grass- roots movement to find a lasting solution to decades old projects -- all the problems. many local, regional, state, federal agencies, and civic groups improved this. the mayor was correct in recognizing one of my predecessors, supervisor jake mcgolder, as well as my immediate supervisor. to the innovations in the design we have added construction innovations like the oscillator, the largest in the world, that can sink huge 11 foot piles into the ground without pounding

them and avoiding transmitting vibrations to the many historic buildings near the construction site. that was a huge step in securing the approval of the california transportation officials to move the project's second phase. in doing so, the project will spearhead a move in california toward considering the full cycle cost of projects, not just the construction cost but also the maintenance and rehabilitation cost, and responsibly accounting for those over three decades into the future. we will adequately maintain our roads and our transit system. that is what is needed in order to assure the state infrastructure remains in good repair for many years to come. it is fitting that the presidio parkway should be leading the way. i cannot and my remarks without acknowledging in a curtailed fashion the partnership of the federal government in the process, and particularly the

leadership of secretary ray low hood -- ray lahood. they supported this project with generous allocations. i would be remiss if i did not also acknowledge the tremendous partnership that we have with the state, particularly through the good offices of the secretary and his staff. thank you of course speaker of the house nancy pelosi. we look forward to continue a fruitful partnership in the years to come. thank you very much. [applause] >> let me take a second now to acknowledge the president of the san francisco board of supervisors, david chiu, who has been a member of the board for the last year and a half and has impressed me as someone who

cares about transportation despite the fact that he has to be in the trenches, fighting the battles on everything on the budget. our board does not have the luxury of being a single person -- a single purpose board. they have to where construction has at times, but the have to reconcile the priorities of everything else. but that is what makes for a livable city. it is actually a very good thing. i think david dhichiu brings to the table a great commitment to a trend that first city and also an equanimity that allows him to understand that great roadway projects can be designed for a park successfully and that it is one of the needs a very big city would have. join me in welcoming the president of the board of supervisors. [applause] >> per se i have to ask, can everyone feel your fingers?

do we need to do a seven minute stretch? i am going to give the briefest remarks ever. seriously, i want to thank our friends from washington dc. i want to thank our friends from sacramento. i want to think our friends from every sector in the bay area for this tremendous project. in san francisco, we take our project seriously. when it comes to these, we are absolutely united. when it comes to earthquake safety, all of us here came together last june to pass one of the largest bond measures for public safety and the structure. last night, we put on the ballot yet another bond to rebuild our private sector buildings. this project is remarkably important. just in closing, i want to say as a former small business person the impact of this project not just on jobs, but the impact on our small businesses, particularly our

disadvantaged businesses, cannot be underestimated. thank you. the warmup. . b-- be warm. [applause] >> let me acknowledge the new statewide director was not able to join us today, but i want to invite my partner and friend and colleague, the district for caltrans director of safety. he deserves as much credit as anybody else for this project. [applause] >> thank you. i know it is cold. i will try to run through this fast with my frozen brain. good morning and thank you for being here today as we celebrate the groundbreaking of the second major contract in a world class presidio park for a project.

when completed it will achieve seismic safety for this important corridor. phase two of it will make sure that this meets the seismic standards. it will also assure that the national park can have access to the presidio, which is sorely needed. the battery is to our left. that is one of two short tunnels that would connect the highway with the presidio. the top of the tunnel will connect the historic battery to lincoln boulevard and the national cemetery and give access to bicycles that go to the trails behind us. a temporary bypass would be built to allow traffic unimpeded during construction. the contract is funded entirely by the american recovery and

reinvestment act of 2009. it started sooner than expected thanks to governor schwarzenegger's efforts in expediting this and getting it funded. this is getting construction workers back to where they belong, improving our aging transportation infrastructure. from this location, you can see the construction activity this project has created. the structure was built in 1936. the new one will accommodate future transportation needs and improve safety with wider lanes a continued shoulder and a wide landscaped area, and it will separate the traffic for northbound and southbound. this is an exciting time with the department and also the construction industry. the presidio parkway is the result of the great partnership between the department, the transportation administration,

the federal highway administration, the presidio trust, and many other agencies that had to come together with different agendas to be sure this project is built while enhancing the environment. our california highway patrol is well represented. thank you for being here and for keeping our highways safe. thanks for all coming here for this event. the last thing is stay safe while you are driving. thank you very much. [applause] >> i know there is a tremendous risk in these events as the temperature dips. good will can turn into hatred. [laughter] i am going to try to wrap this up very quickly, but we could not wrap up this event -- that is my cute -- without hearing

very briefly -- emphasis on briefly -- from one of the businesses working on the project. by way of introduction i am going to say that the president of that company is the most appropriately dressed person for the occasion. she actually dressed warmup. let us invite her to the podium. [applause] >> good morning, everyone. thanks for that graceful introduction. as you have heard, my name is julie berry. we do concrete pumping. i am a certified local business enterprise. i am also a certified firm located in the bayview district here in this warm city of san francisco. we are grateful for the

opportunity to work on the presidio parkway doyle drive replacement project. we are doubly grateful. not only did we have the opportunity to win a contract, but additionally we are going to be working on contract for. the total value of those contracts is approximately $3 million. you're probably wondering -- how did you do that? what i did was i attended -- just done the street, i attended and out -- event for small business enterprises conducted by paul prendergast and his team. that afforded me the opportunity. all of the general contractors were there, and i had the opportunity as a small business to reach out to each of them face to face and talk about my business and how i can team with them and work on this project together. being a woman-owned firm, with

my husband out here in the audience and my son running this truck here -- they have been at my side. and i cannot tell you what this means to my business. it has been a struggle sometimes. it has been rewarding. it has had opportunities. overall, it has been wonderful. because of the presidium parkway, i was able to increase my staff by 65%. additionally, i was able to purchase equipment to put on this project. this equipment is called a boom pump and it mes concrete. it can pump 173 cubic yards of concrete for hours and had a reach of 147 feet. you can imagine the efficiency that is going to bring to the general contractors on this project. this is economic recovery in action, the ability to hire new

people and the ability to buy equipment to put on a project. to us, every opportunity counts. every payroll that we make, every business loan payment terms, because it means we are coming back from one of the darkest economic times in our history. it is our responsibility to take this opportunity and take it forward. i would like to share a story of how we were able to pay this forward. we are located in the bayview district. we are a couple of blocks from bay shore boulevard and a few blocks away from third street. one of the most iconic businesses in the southeast part of san francisco is bodie concrete. they have been a landmark in san francisco forever. this is how we met our new employees. my son was out pumping country when a driver walked up to him

and said, "my son has been unemployed for a long time, and he needs a job. he has always loved concrete pumping." nixon was so excited that someone shared the same enthusiasm he does about concrete pumping that we hired that young man. he is now working for us today. he has been there for nine months and is one of our best concrete pumpers. this is what economic recovery books like. i am proud we had the opportunity to hire a new employee. i do not know if you are aware. on march 18, president obama signed and hiring incentive act. that allows small businesses to hire new employees. you get some tax breaks and incentives to can apply to your peril that will help you as a small business. we are utilizing this program. it is a big investment for us. we are also proud of the fact

that we are signatories to operating engineers local chapter 3. their mission is quality jobs and the best possible wages, fringe benefits, and working conditions for their members. they have sponsored everyone of their -- we have sponsored everyone of our employees into the union and we look forward to them being active for years to come. opportunity does not stop at royal drive. because we have an expanded workforce, at new equipment, and do not get to perform brilliantly only for our prime sponsors, but did to compete. we can now compete where we never could before with the small business enterprise. we have a job on the san francisco general hospital, a small job we won, but there are many other new projects coming up in the city and in the bay area the will allow us an opportunity to compete at a

different level. in closing, i would like to say for us the presidio parkway was a game changer. i think this is exactly what president obama and speaker pelosi wanted to have happened with the project. to cici myers, thanks for the opportunity to be a part of your team. to the city of san francisco, to caltrans, thank you from the bottom of my heart. thank you for understanding how critically important small and disadvantaged businesses are to the fabric of the great city, our state, and our nation. we will do you proud on this project. you have my word on it. thank you. [applause]

>> thank you, julie. we have no doubt that you will make a sprout on this project. so will the other contractors on this incredible project. let me promise you from the podium that for the next ground- breaking we will have hot chocolate for you. thank you all very much. [applause] [applause]

everyone has friends. there's on-line friends, friends to go out with on a saturday night, friends to hang out with and do nothing, friends who show up on moving day, and then there are the friends who will be there if someone is dealing with a mental illness. are you one of those friends? >> in this fabulously beautiful

persidio national park and near golden gate and running like a scar is this ugly highway. that was built in 1936 at the same time as the bridge and at that time the presidio was an army and they didn't want civilians on their turf. and the road was built high. >> we need access and you have a 70 year-old facility that's inadequate for today's transportation needs. and in addition to that, you have the problem that it wasn't for site extenders. >> the rating for the high viaduct is a higher rating than

that collapsed. and it was sapped quite a while before used and it was rusty before installed. >> a state highway through a federal national park connecting an independently managed bridge to city streets. this is a prescription for complication. >> it became clear unless there was one catalyst organization that took it on as a challenge, it wouldn't happen and we did that and for people to advocate. and the project has a structural rating of 2 out of 100. >> you can see the rusting reinforcing in the concrete when you look at the edges now. the deck has steel reinforcing

that's corroded and lost 2/3's of its strength. >> this was accelerated in 1989 when the earthquake hit and cal came in and strengthened but can't bring to standards. to fix this road will cost more than to replace. and for the last 18 years, we have been working on a design to replace the road way, but to do in a way that makes it appropriate to be in a national park and not army post. >> i would say it's one of the most ugly structure, and it's a barrier between the mar sh and

presidio. and this is a place and i brought my dogs and grandchildren and had a picnic lunch and it was memorable to use them when we come here. what would it look like when the design and development is completed. and we are not sure we want an eight lane highway going through this town. and it's a beautiful area in a national seaport area on the planet. >> the road is going to be so different. it's really a park way, and it's a parkway through the national park. and they make the road disapeer to the national park. >> and the road is about 20

feet lower, normally midday, you go through it in two minutes. looking back from the golden gate bridge to presidio, you are more aware of the park land and less of the roads. and the viaduct will parallel the existing one and to the south and can be built while the existing one remains in operation. and the two bridges there with open space between them and your views constantly change and not aware of the traffic in the opposite direction and notice the views more. and the lanes of course are a foot wider than they are today. and they will be shoulders and if your car is disabled, you can pull off to the edge. and the next area, the tunnel portal will have a view centered on the palace of fine

arts and as you come out, you can see alkatrez island and bay. and the next area is about 1,000 feet long. and when you come into one, you can see through the other end. it's almost like driving through a building than through a tunnel. and noise from the roadway will be sheltered. and the traffic will be out of view. >> when you come out of the last sort tunnel and as you look forward, you see the golden dome of the palace of fine arts and what more perfect way to come to san francisco through that gateway. >> it will be an amazing transformation. now you read it as one section,

the road is a major barrier and then a wonderful strip along the water. all of those things are going to mesh together. >> right now the road really cuts off this area from public access. and with the new road, we will be able to open up the opportunity in a new way. >> this bunker that we see now is out of access for the general public. we are excited to completely rework this side and to open up the magnificent views. and what we want to do is add to this wonderful amenity and restore this coastal bluff area and respect its military history and the doyle drive project is allowing us to do

that recorrection. and this area is not splintered off. >> and we can see how dramatic a change it will be when doyle drive is suppressd and you have a cover that connects the cemetery to this project. it's historic on the statewide and national basis, but you could rush the project or put thought and time to create something of lasting public benefit. >> we really want this, for everyone to feel like it's a win situation. whether you are a neighbor that lives nearby or a commuter or user of the park. that everyone will experience a much better situation than they currently have. >> the human interest to me is how people could work out so

many challenging differences to come to a design that we believe will give us a jewel. landmark of a place. >> i am sure it will have refining effect like embark did. and there were people about that and no one would think of that today. and when you look at growth and transformation of the embark, the same with doyle. it will be a cherished part of the city and a worthy addition to what is there. >> it will be a safe and beautiful entrance to a spectacular beautiful city. it will be the entry to golden gate that san francisco deserves.

>> welcome to district sf featuring district 8. district 8 is well known as one of the city's most beautiful and desirable areas the heart is castro street. dollar is much more to this district. the district includes the mission delores, duboce triangle. corona heights. upper market, eureka valley. noe valley. twin peek. diamond heights, glen park and the san jose gererro area. because it's such a large area we can only scratch the surface in our half-hour program. we will will introduce you to the beautiful attractions, vexing issues and unique plans for the future that make district 8 a special place to live, work and visit. >> i view district 8 as being a

little like maybury in the castro it's gaybury. our neighborhoodses are tightly woven. there is a lot of connection of people and awareness of what's going on in the world and the state and locally. >> there are so many things about it. its beautiful. got great views. of the 3 places i have lived 2 had spectacular vistas of san francisco which we appreciate. >> initially when i came here it felt very warm and friendly and welcoming to all kinds of people. >> close to transportation. >> not just the castro. the most of the district is not the castro. >> the neighborhood goes up to the hill the. fancy houses in the hills down to delores park and the mission. >> noe valley is where the kids and families are. there is a focus on the parks. big focus on the