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

San Francisco Public Works has set winter 2026 as the start of construction on the Powell Street Improvement Project, the roughly $40 million rebuild of the three blocks of Powell Street between Market and Geary. The department’s project page lists anticipated construction running from winter 2026 to winter 2027.

That is a slight shift from what the city said in June, when coverage of the funding approval described a groundbreaking in the fall. The Public Works page is the more recent of the two, and it now gives the window as winter to winter.

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 lanterns over the street, with a large suspended spherical LED fixture near the cable car turnaround that changes color by season. 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.

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 worth knowing 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 in the same winter.

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.