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Why should voters in one county care about funding transit in another? Because the Bay Area’s transit system is very regional. ���ϴ�����research found that Bay Area transit trips are 70% more likely to cross county lines than car trips, making the success of all transit agencies vital to the region’s health. We dug into the impacts of the looming $800 million annual deficit and why Senate Bill 63 is the best hope to save Bay Area transit.

San Francisco’s proposed Family Zoning Plan would allow thousands of new housing units to be built in west side neighborhoods that haven’t seen much growth in decades. What would a population increase like this mean for traffic and mobility in this part of the city? ���ϴ�����delved into local transportation data and made some surprising discoveries about traffic and commute patterns.

Bay Area Air District rules phasing out the sale of gas-fired space and water heating equipment will lead to the steady transition to heat pumps in homes and the realization of enormous health and environmental benefits. A thoughtful implementation process will ensure the rules are on track for success. ���ϴ�����recommends four actions to strengthen that process.

Most residents are unfamiliar with their city’s charter — the foundational legal document that functions as a city’s local constitution and shapes nearly every aspect of its governance. As San Francisco and Oakland consider changes to their city charters, ���ϴ�����dives into what a charter is, how it works, and why it’s important to everything from the powers of elected officials to how public services are delivered.

In California, it takes too long and costs too much to build infrastructure of all kinds, including transit. A new report from Circulate San Diego in partnership with ���ϴ�����details the challenges that transit projects face during the permitting process and ways to overcome them. Powerless Brokers charts a set of possible next steps for the state legislature following a momentous year for infrastructure streamlining.

Hazard mitigation and climate adaptation investments — overlooked until disaster strikes — reduce long-term damage, save lives, and lower recovery costs. Yet just as the stakes of climate hazards skyrocket, the federal government has begun to retreat from its leadership role in mitigation, leaving states and local governments scrambling to fill the gap.

The City of San Francisco has implemented all six of SPUR’s recommendations to accelerate adaptive reuse projects. By converting obsolete office buildings into housing, the city will provide significant economic, social, and environmental benefits: more housing for workers, support for small businesses and cultural organizations, increased office space value, and greater property and sales tax revenues.

After an especially fraught budget season, Governor Newsom signed the state budget into law on June 30, providing critically needed relief funding for public transit. The lifeline from the state will buy time to avoid service cuts in the near term. Long-term stability hinges on passage of a tax measure and reauthorization of the Cap-and-Trade Program.

For San Francisco’s new planning director, the 2007 recession was revelatory: no matter a city’s vision, market realities and risk management dictate development outcomes. That realization sparked Sarah Dennis-Philips’ curiosity about how capital flows and public policies influence what actually gets built. In a world where planning, land use, and growth are no longer predictable or sequential, Sarah says the role of city planner has expanded from designer and regulator to strategist, facilitator, and problem solver.

Heat pumps can heat and cool buildings, reduce greenhouse gasses, and improve indoor and outdoor air quality. So why aren’t they more common in California? A web of complex requirements, restrictive zoning and planning codes, excessive documentation requirements, and high fees have hindered adoption. SPUR’s Sam Fishman explains current permitting headaches and walks us through how to smooth the way to a gas-free future for buildings.

���ϴ�����supported a recent Berkeley ordinance that motivates investments in zero-emissions home retrofits by taking advantage of home sales to require energy upgrades. Berkeley’s time-of-sale approach balances consistent investment with flexible compliance pathways for retrofits. It’s just one approach cities can take to expand their decarbonization toolboxes.

San Francisco faces an unprecedented fiscal crisis as rising costs and stagnant revenues drive a growing structural deficit. With a projected $1.47 billion deficit by FY 2029–30, city leaders must now make tough choices, including cutting costs, redefining core services, improving budget management, and updating the city charter. The third article in our series looks at structural solutions that can help the city avoid future instability and ensure a sustainable fiscal future.

SPUR’s exhibition Watermarks: Postcards from the Future invited attendees to approach the challenges of inland and coastal flooding from a perspective of opportunity rather than distress and uncertainty. The exhibition and related events were inspired by three SF Climate Week questions: What if we reframe our relationship with water as one of coexistence rather than control? What if adaptation projects could both revive natural ecosystems and improve public access to the waterfront? What if adaptation needs also create space for community empowerment and equitable action?

A city’s budget reflects its priorities and values — and choices made over the years. San Francisco’s $15.9 billion budget for 2024–25 is increasingly constrained, with only 18% of funds remaining truly discretionary due to legal mandates, voter-approved set-asides, and other restrictions. Key revenue sources have become more volatile since COVID, and rising costs leave limited flexibility to adapt to changing fiscal conditions. In this article, we take a deep dive into the city’s revenues and expenditures.

The California State Legislature’s “Fast-Track Housing” package addresses the state’s housing crisis on multiple fronts. ���ϴ�����sponsored three of the package’s bills and is working on four other bills that would make it easier to build critically needed housing, including in transit-rich areas where increased density could boost transit use and help the state meet its climate goals.

Meeting San Francisco’s many challenges, from accelerating housing production to revitalizing downtown and improving transportation operations, hinges on a lasting fix for the city’s structural budget deficit. As city leaders work to address a projected budget shortfall of $817 million for fiscal years 2025–2026 and a nearly $1 billion deficit for fiscal years 2027–2028, they must grapple with voter-approved spending mandates and a budget process that limits their options.

Part of SPUR’s role is to articulate clear principles and goals for urban policymaking. As San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration passes the 100-day mark, ���ϴ�����offers a decision-making framework to help the new mayor and his administration set priorities and maintain momentum in the face of complex and evolving challenges.

Mayor Lurie’s recently proposed Family Zoning Plan increases the likelihood that San Francisco will meet its state-set goal to build 82,069 new homes. The plan would remove regulatory obstacles to building dense multifamily housing in most neighborhoods and create new opportunities to build housing near schools, businesses, and transit. Critically, it would remedy historic patterns of segregation by dismantling hallmarks of exclusionary zoning in the city’s northern and western neighborhoods.