Frida Kahlo Way is set to become a whole lot smoother.
The thoroughfare, lined by City College of San Francisco, Archbishop Riordan High School and an entrance to the under-construction 1,100-unit Balboa Reservoir housing development, has been prioritized by Mayor Daniel Lurie for repaving.
The mayor's office announced on Wednesday that the roadway stretching between Judson and Ocean avenues, formerly known as Phelan Avenue, is among 150 blocks across the city prioritized for maintenance, paving and rehabilitation starting next year.
“With support from the state, we’re upgrading our infrastructure across the city for drivers, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians while saving residents money by cutting down on wear and tear on their vehicles,” Lurie, who is away on a trip to Asia, said in a statement.
Funding for the $90 million of roadway improvements will come from a mix of state and local funding. San Francisco has some 454,000 cars and nearly 13,000 blocks.
San Francisco Public Works' Street Resurfacing Program chooses streets for repaving using criteria such as roadway condition, public transit and bike lane use, and timing with other infrastructure projects, such as sewer and water system upgrades.
“Our job is to ensure that the funding we receive is used efficiently, effectively and equitably and builds on the momentum in keeping our streets in good shape,” Public Works Director Carla Short said in a statement.
San Francisco street quality is ranked “good” and best among big Bay Area cities, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's latest Pavement Condition Index score.
Other streets set to benefit from this round of paving include Oakdale Avenue, Cow Hollow's stretch of Union Street, Portola's Felton Street, Russian Hill's Jackson Street, Noe Valley's Sanchez Street, Excelsior's Moscow Street and Jackson Square's Sansome Street.
Frida Kahlo Way is a de facto construction zone. City College is building a $180 million performing arts center while housing developers, led by AvalonBay Communities, are building infrastructure and large residential buildings. Both project sites use the street for moving equipment and materials, while it also serves as a neighborhood-serving street for thousands of students and neighbors.
Frida Kahlo Way, in 2024-25, was reconfigured by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency as part of a quick-build project to add a two-way bike lane on the east side, among other changes.
Yet, the street is pockmarked and craggy and in need of repaving.
City College of San Francisco is currently replacing the sidewalk fronting Frida Kahlo Way as part of a utility upgrading project. College officials estimate the completion of work to be May 8, depending on the weather.
