Levee Improvements Project: Frequently Asked Questions

The Foster City Levee, owned and maintained by the City, surrounds the majority of the outer bay-front perimeter of the City to provide flood protection. The Levee Improvements Project is the largest public works project in the City’s history and will structurally and aesthetically improve and enhance the levee.

The project will increase the height and width of the levee to improve protection against storm/tide surges, meet sea level rise projections through the year 2050, and make the levee more resistant to earthquakes. Depending on specific location, these improvements will be implemented with conventional sea wall, earthen levee, or hybrid sheet pile wall. Additionally, the project’s associated redevelopment and widening of the Levee/Bay Trail will provide the community with an enhanced, more inviting recreation destination.

Although the levee has so far withstood storm/tide surge challenges, it is in need of critical upgrades and safety improvements. In 2014, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determined that Foster City’s levee system does not meet minimum requirements for flood protection. Further, in order to obtain the necessary permits to implement needed improvements, regional regulations say that construction must meet year 2050 sea level rise protection requirements.

If no action is taken, the community would be at heightened flood risk and be designated as a flood zone. FEMA designation as a flood zone would require property owners with federally-insured mortgages to pay an estimated $2,000-$3,000 in mandatory, annual flood insurance. Rents could increase if those flood insurance costs are passed along to those renting properties.

The project will maintain FEMA accreditation of the levee and protect Foster City homes, schools, businesses, and essential City services and infrastructure during storms and high tides, and from future sea level rise. The improved levee will be more resistant to earthquake damage, and will prevent FEMA designation of the City as a flood zone, thus avoiding requirements for homeowners to purchase expensive, permanent flood insurance.

The project includes associated redevelopment and widening of the Levee/Bay Trail, which will provide the community with an enhanced, more inviting recreation destination, maintaining the natural beauty of the levee and our scenic views. The improvements are designed to enhance levee trail access, usability, and landscaping for walkers, runners and cyclists.

Foster City voters passed the Levee Improvement Bond Measure P in 2018, authorizing the City to issue $90 million in general obligation bonds to fund these critical levee improvements ($85 million were issued on August 5, 2020). The Measure P levy will start appearing on Foster City property tax bills starting this fall (2020) and will continue for 30 years. The first-year rate will be approximately $36 per $100,000 of assessed property value. Subsequently, the rate will be an estimated $33 annually, with continuing decreases assuming assessed property valuations continue to rise.

Measure P included fiscal accountability provisions. An independent citizens’ oversight committee ensures all funds are spent as promised on voter-approved projects, and all funds stay local to improve the Foster City levee system. No funds from the measure can be used for administrators’ salaries.

Construction will start in fall of 2020, and is anticipated to continue for approximately three years.

Construction will take place Monday – Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. Saturday work will take place between 9 am and 5 pm. The contractor may prepare work prior to and after these hours (such as setup and staging), but will not operate any heavy machinery or equipment outside of the approved work hours.

While the City and its contractors will make every effort possible to minimize disturbances during this project, there will be some unavoidable impacts to neighborhoods near the construction. Among the impacts to be expected are an increase in noise, dust, vibration, and traffic delays in the areas near where levee work is taking place. The project team will implement measures to mitigate impacts to the extent feasible.

Additionally, use of the Levee/Bay Trail will be interrupted as significant earth moving work and other construction activities take place at various locations. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as this vital work is completed.

For your safety, do not enter any closed, fenced-off areas of the levee trail or equipment storage/staging areas, even if you don't see active construction. Be aware of trucks and heavy equipment traveling to and from the work sites, pay attention to detours, and follow instructions from flaggers and safety signage.

During construction, the contractor will need to close portions of the Levee Trail for public safety and to maintain the most efficient construction schedule (which will also result in a shorter overall construction duration and reduced length of impact to the public). 

We know that this is a much-used recreational destination for our community and understand the challenges that the closure may pose. We appreciate your patience and support during construction on this vital project that will protect Foster City for generations to come.

The City and/or contractor will reach out to neighbors with information about what will be happening, for how long, and what impacts to expect. This outreach will typically be via email (including a weekly construction email update) and/or door-hangers. In some instances, direct mail or even personal contact (observing social distancing protocol) may be utilized. You can subscribe to receive construction updates and obtain more project information from the project website: www.fostercity.org/leveeproject. If you have any construction related questions or concerns, please call the Levee Project hotline at (800) 213-6320.

The City has received permits for this project from seven different agencies at the federal, state, and regional levels. These permits and associated regulations provide the requirements for protecting wildlife and the environment during the project. The regulations address species such as the Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse; marine mammals and fish; vegetation and habitat on and around the work areas; bay water and associated wetlands. A biologist will be present to monitor temporary impacts to marsh habitat during earthen fill placement, wall installation, and restoration activities.

Construction traffic will be routed via designated haul routes. A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the project. Residents can expect an increase in truck traffic to and from the levee at various work locations, including temporary, lane closures on Beach Park Boulevard or East 3rd Avenue. Electronic signboards will be posted in advance to indicate any closures as well as specific time frames.

Detailed plans are available on the project web page: www.fostercity.org/leveeproject. Click on "Additional Documents and Resources," then "Design." If you have questions about specific design plans for the levee segment nearest to your property, you can contact Foster City Public Works staff at (650) 286-3270. Immediate construction concerns may be reported to the project hotline at (800) 213-6320.

Renderings of typical levee segments are available on the project web page at www.fostercity.org/leveeproject, under "Learn more about the Levee Improvements Project."

A natural metal surface was selected for a number of reasons:

• Over time, a painted metal surface will exhibit ‘weeping’ through the coating, leading to streaking and staining of the wall surface, and requiring frequent paint touch-ups to maintain a uniform appearance. New paint over existing sun-worn paint can look uneven and splotchy
• A natural metal surface will age nicely and wear more uniformly than a coated surface, minimizing localized areas of corrosion, and maintaining consistency in the overall condition of the wall. This uniformity and consistency leads to superior longevity than a painted surface. 
• The natural metal surface will save money in initial construction costs, and in annual routine maintenance costs. Over its lifetime, a painted wall would need several expensive repaints, in addition to touch ups associated with graffiti removal.
• Removal of graffiti paint from the natural metal surface will result in a more uniform look than paint touch ups, which would be unlikely to match the existing faded paint. To address cases of graffiti, removal techniques would be applied in lieu of paint touch ups, revealing the natural metal surface and allowing it, over time, to return to its patina.

Please visit the project website at www.fostercity.org/leveeproject for the project description, background, and links to documents and reports related to the Levee Improvements Project.

Our focus is on protecting the Foster City community, and we are in communication with neighboring communities around the common goal of flood protection. Other jurisdictions are in various stages of addressing this need. Foster City is leading the way in implementing these improvements, thanks to the foresight of our community members, who approved Measure P in order to more quickly move forward.