SPUR Publications

SPUR collaborates with Nuestra Casa to address critical environmental and public health issues, such as groundwater rise and drinking water safety, in East Palo Alto. We asked Nuestra Casa Environmental Justice Fellow Osvaldo Macias about the fruits of this partnership. He explains how our work together has advanced impactful research while extending his organization’s reach and influence in advocating for policy changes.

California has dramatically expanded wildfire spending over the past decade, but most resources still go toward fire response rather than proactive resilience measures like vegetation management, home hardening, and community preparedness. To match the scale of rising wildfire risks, the state must increase and maintain resilience investments.

The 2025 California legislative session was a critical one for averting a transit fiscal cliff. As the session drew to a close, SPUR worked with our partners to focus on three issues: securing critical short-term loans for transit operators; passing Senate Bill 63, which authorizes a regional transit funding measure for the November 2026 ballot; and maintaining funding for transit within the renewal of the the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program.

This summer, SPUR hosted a talented group of policy researchers through partnerships with fellowship and practicum programs at high schools, colleges, and graduate programs. Learn more about the work they did with SPUR and where they headed after collaborating with us.

Why should voters in one county care about funding transit in another? Because the Bay Area’s transit system is very regional. SPUR 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? SPUR 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. SPUR 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, SPUR 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 SPUR 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.

SPUR 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. SPUR 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.