In a bid to better manage stormwater across five acres of the Outer Mission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted $5 million to San Francisco for improvements that will direct sewer overflows into Islais Creek and the bay.
The Outer Mission Green Infrastructure Project's planted curb extensions, rain garden plazas and an underground infiltration system will do more than absorb water. It aims to also calm traffic and create greener, safer roadways.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the agency charged with spending the funds and partnered with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency on the plans, said the projects will reduce pressure on the city's combined sewer system.
“These improvements will make a real difference in the Outer Mission by helping to manage stormwater, particularly during heavy rain,” General Manager Dennis Herrera said in a statement. “We’re very pleased to be able to invest in this community and add to the work we’re already doing to protect the Bay.”
Cayuga and Ocean avenues: Expanded pedestrian island and a new rain garden plaza, plus bioretention bulbouts at Cayuga and Santa Ynez avenues.
Alemany Boulevard and Ottawa Avenue: Rain garden plazas and bioretention bulbouts created by narrowing an overly wide, six‑lane intersection.
Oneida Avenue between San Jose and Otsego avenues: A series of bioretention bulbouts and a subsurface infiltration gallery supporting Safe Routes to School.
Cayuga and Onieda avenues: A bioretention bulbout along the Slowyuga corridor, near Balboa High School.
Capistrano and Santa Ysabel avenues: A bioretention bulbout to calm traffic and manage stormwater at a wide, irregular intersection.
Together, the improvements are projected to capture 2.7 million gallons of stormwater each year. The reduction will help the city's combined stormwater and sewer system reduce the volume of discharges in the bay.
To reach San Francisco's long-term goal of capturing 1 billion gallons of stormwater by 2050, 575 green infrastructure projects have been built and planned to date, according to the SFPUC.
The design process is expected to begin this year, with construction planned to start in March 2028.
A similar project was built along Ingleside's stretch of Holloway Avenue a few years ago.
