Powell Street’s $40 Million Rebuild Is Now Set to Start This Fall

Updated October 5, 2026. Construction on the Powell Street Improvement Project, the rebuild of the three blocks of Powell Street between Market and Geary, is now scheduled to start this fall. San Francisco Public Works’ project page lists anticipated construction from fall 2026 to winter 2027, and ABC7 reported on October 3 that the work is set to begin in November.

When we first wrote about the project in September, the Public Works page gave the window as winter 2026 to winter 2027. The page has since moved the start back to fall, which matches what the city and the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation said in June. The Union Square Alliance says the target is to finish in November 2027, ahead of the holiday season.

What Is Being Built

The work covers roadway reconstruction, sidewalk replacement and sidewalk extensions, new lighting, and landscaping, according to Public Works. The design came out of a competitive process won by Field Operations, the firm behind Presidio Tunnel Tops, working with Sitelab Urban Studio.

The published design widens the sidewalks, adds planting and seating, and hangs a series of programmable Art Nouveau-inspired lanterns over the street between Market and Geary. A large suspended LED fixture, which the Union Square Alliance describes as a starburst chandelier, goes above the cable car turnaround at Market Street and changes color by season. The temporary aluminum parklets on the street are being replaced with outdoor dining space, according to the Downtown Development Corporation. Cable car boarding areas are being upgraded, and the connection between the Powell Street turnaround and Union Square is being reworked, as SFist reported. Muni is also replacing aging cable car mechanical and electrical equipment underneath the street.

Public Works says the project team will coordinate with Muni Operations to limit how long cable car service is shut down, and will phase construction to keep the corridor open to pedestrians and businesses.

How It Is Being Paid For

Mayor Daniel Lurie signed legislation in June 2026 letting the city accept a $14.5 million contribution from the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation. The mayor’s office said that money sits on top of $26 million already committed through the 2024 Healthy, Safe and Vibrant San Francisco Bond and transportation funding sources.

The sources give slightly different totals. Public Works puts the project at about $40 million, ABC7 reported $42 million, and the Union Square Alliance’s project page estimates $43 million, with $26 million in public money and $17 million in private funding.

What It Means If You Are Riding the Cable Cars

The Powell and Market turnaround is where the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines start, and it is inside the construction zone. Both lines can also be boarded at stops along their routes, which is useful to know if the turnaround area is fenced during phases of the work.

Cable car fares are changing on a separate track: the SFMTA is moving to a $12 single ride and an $18 all-day cable car pass in January 2027, which we covered in our guide to the Muni payment changes. If the current schedule holds, riders will see both the new fares and an active construction site on Powell this winter.

The rebuild is part of a wider push on the Union Square blocks. Uniqlo returns downtown with a flagship at 801 Market Street on October 9, a block from the turnaround.

Where to Check for Updates

Public Works lists Michelle Woo as the project manager, with a phone line at 628-271-2155. The project partners are the SFMTA, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Union Square Alliance, and Field Operations. Construction dates on city capital projects move, so check the Public Works page before planning around a specific week.

Photo: JCruzTheTruth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.