We believe education empowers people to take an active role in creating a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous region. That's why the majority of our programming is now free to the public.

Upcoming Events

April 2023

building under construction
Apr
4
Tue
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Expanding Access: State Grant Programs for Seismic Retrofits

Digital Discourse to
Join us for a discussion with Janiele Maffei, chief mitigation officer at CEA, to discuss how these programs reduce barriers to advancing seismic safety in California.
San José Japantown's newest housing development, Exhibit.
Apr
7
Fri
San José

Experience Exhibit: Tour Japantown’s Newest Housing Development

Partnering Event to
Catalyze SV and San José Arts Advocates invite you to enjoy art, networking, a tour, and refreshments at Japantown's Exhibit. Catalyze SV and San José Arts Advocates will host a tour of Japantown's newest housing development Exhibit. Hear about the innovative features that make developer LandForge's Exhibit a vibrant place to live while learning about local art. The development features an art exhibit by Empire 7 Studios, decked parking, and a feng shui fire-&-water skydeck.
people walking down the street
Apr
13
Thu
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Exploring Downtown Revitalization Efforts in North America

Digital Discourse to
Join us for a conversation with representatives from these cities to learn their vision for the future of downtowns, the potential of office-residential conversions, and other strategies to diversify downtown land uses.
A train travels along a track surrounded by buildings and trees.
Apr
13
Thu
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Steering Transit from the Fiscal Cliff

Digital Discourse to
COVID relief funds for transit are going to run out as soon as 2024 for some agencies, and without a multiyear commitment of state funds, many Bay Area transit systems might be forced to make severe cuts that would curtail reliable access to daily needs for hundreds of thousands of residents. Join us to speak with experts about how they’re planning to avert fiscal disaster, as well as how to advance programs and policy changes that can help any agency in the state restore and grow ridership.
People walking through City Slicker Farm
Apr
18
Tue
Oakland

Growing Food Justice in Oakland: Tour of West Oakland's City Slicker Farms [In-Person Tour]

Tour to
Since its founding in 2001, City Slicker Farms has been at the forefront of the 21st-century sustainable urban farming and food justice movement, gaining national recognition as a leader in supporting low-income communities of color to grow food in Oakland. Join us for a tour of West Oakland Farm Park, which serves as a center for sustainable agriculture, environmental awareness and action, and health education, to hear about community-based solutions that support food justice and access.
sidewalk mural
Apr
18
Tue
San Francisco

An Equitable Path for BIPOC Developers [In-Person Program]

In-Person Event to
In this forum we'll discuss the formation of the Regional Black Housing Finance Pool to address redevelopment, acquisition, and rehabilitation challenges and to support Black leaders who are serving the housing needs of Black communities.
person walking down an u
Apr
19
Wed
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Connecting Our City Streets: The Importance of Accessible Sidewalks

Digital Discourse to
Sidewalks are an essential part of urban infrastructure, connecting city streets and allowing people to travel between local destinations safely and efficiently. Join us to chat with experts from across the country about their perspectives on what makes a sidewalk accessible and what we can learn about making our streets safe and enjoyable for all.
futuristic view of San Francisco's Japantown.
Apr
20
Thu
San Francisco

Common Ground: Re-Making the Ground Floor [In-Person Program]

In-Person Event to
Join us for the release of Common Ground: Project for the Post-Retail City, Re-Making the Ground Floor with the authors, where we’ll host a conversation about the research, case studies and design proposals explored in the studio, interrogate the future of the ground floor and social infrastructure, and what actionable policies, practices and partnerships could work toward a new common ground.
Brooklyn Basin waterfront
Apr
25
Tue
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Groundwater Rise Adaptation: Insights from Miami and San Rafael

Digital Discourse to
Sea level rise has increased the urgency of adapting to groundwater rise. Join us for a discussion with representatives from San Rafael, California, and Miami, Florida, which has grappled with high water tables for decades, to discuss strategies for living with groundwater and sea level rise.
Aerial view of parking lot.
Apr
26
Wed
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Instead of Paving Paradise, Can We Share It?

Digital Discourse to
California has fields of parking – enough, according to the recent Bay Area Parking Census, to wrap around the earth twice! Many parking spots in private lots and garages are empty at predictable times of the day or week. Can we find a way to make parking spaces shareable for different users? Join us to learn about recent changes and potential new rules, including a new state bill, that would do just that.
MacArthur BART, Oakland
Apr
27
Thu
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Transit’s Changing Business Model: A Look at Recent Short-Range Transit Plans

Digital Discourse to
The Federal Transit Administration requires any transit agency receiving federal funds to have a document that generally plans for transit services and operations over what is usually a 10-year period. The most recent cycle of reports, this time shortened to a five-year planning term, can serve as an entry point to discuss transit's changing business model for aligning financial resources with customer needs and public priorities. Join us as our panelists highlight shared challenges as well as fundamental differences among individual operators in adapting to a post-COVID world.

May 2023

Cyclist on Hunters Point Boulevard, San Francisco
May
3
Wed
San Francisco

You Want to Ride Your Bicycle? A Look into the Active Communities Plan

Digital Discourse to
The Active Communities Plan, created by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, is meant to jumpstart progress toward making bicycle and other low-carbon trips safe, accessible, and preferable for all. Join us for a deep dive into the data and analysis underlying the Active Communities Plan and its community-driven approach to encouraging mode shift.
bikes
May
4
Thu
San Francisco

Equitable Bike Access in San Francisco [In-Person Program]

In-Person Event to
What strategies can be adopted to ensure equitable access and create more non-car trips downtown and beyond as San Francisco improves its bike infrastructure network? Join us to hear from bike equity experts and city officials about planning equitable access to the bike network in Downtown San Francisco & surrounding neighborhoods.
People cooking in a food incubator kitchen
May
9
Tue
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Entrepreneurial Endeavors: Building a Business through Food Incubators

Digital Discourse to
In California, more than 40% of new businesses are founded by immigrants (in contrast to just 25% nationally). How can California support these businesses? Join us to learn more about food incubator programs from multiple mission-driven food business incubators from across the country, and how they support women, people of color, and immigrants to bring their food businesses to life.
Market Street in San Francisco, Ferry Building visible
May
10
Wed
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

CANCELLED: Coordinated Action to Speed Up Buses

Digital Discourse to
18 months ago, the Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan promised bold action on increasing priority for public transit in our roadways. SPUR will release a policy report detailing specific recommendations to get these projects moving. Come learn about both SPUR’s proposals and forthcoming state and regional efforts to get buses out of traffic.
View of Caltrain railyard, SF, with skyline and bay bridge in baxkground
May
11
Thu
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

RESCHEDULED: A Conversation With Caltrans Director Tony Tavares

Digital Discourse to
Since June 2022, Tony Tavares has served as the 34th director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where he manages a nearly $20 billion budget and 22,000 employees who oversee California's highways, bridges, airports and rail. Tavares, a civil engineering graduate, has held a number of positions in California's transportation sector, most recently director of the Caltrans Los Angeles District 7. Now, as Caltrans director, Tavares will advance efforts for safe and sustainable communities across the state. His people-first vision for California's transportation encompasses sustainability, equity, accessibility and safety across all modes of transit. Join us for a conversation with Director Tavares about that vision and his plans for implementing the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), road and congestion pricing, bus priority and express lane conversions, tearing down highways and avoiding the transit fiscal cliff.
building
May
18
Thu
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Preserving Housing & Centering Tenants with Opportunities to Purchase

Digital Discourse to
This forum will explore how our coalition combatted opposition to and misinformation about the the Tenant or Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, how government and philanthropy can creatively support the act’s implementation, and how the lessons they’ve learned can assist other jurisdictions looking to adopt a similar act.
West Hedding Street, San Jose, Caltrain tracks
May
24
Wed
San Francisco

Workshop: MTC’s Transit 2050+ [In-Person Event]

In-Person Event to
Transit 2050+, the region’s first Connected Network Plan and a key element of The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) update of Plan Bay Area, marks a significant shift in the Bay Area toward planning for a more seamless transit experience for users. Join us for a brief presentation on Transit 2050+ by MTC and SPUR staff, followed by a workshop exercise. This program is open to all, but a target group of guests, including transit operator staff, is encouraged to attend.
Central Freeway, SoMA District, San Francisco
May
25
Thu
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Book Talk: Justice and the Interstates

Digital Discourse to
When the U.S. interstate system was constructed, spurred by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, many highways were purposefully routed through poor communities and communities of color, which were destroyed, isolated from the rest of the city, or left to deteriorate. Justice and the Interstates examines the toll taken on these communities over the past seven decades, details efforts to restore these often-segregated communities, and makes recommendations for moving forward.
oakland city hall
May
31
Wed
San Francisco + San José + Oakland

Welcome to The Town: A Meet and Greet

Digital Discourse to
Join us for a conversation between SPUR's Oakland Director and Councilmember Ramachandran, where we will get to know Oakland's new councilmember and learn about her vision for District 4.

June 2023

building
Jun
6
Tue
San Francisco

Transformative Community-Government Partnerships in Housing Policy [In-Person Program]

In-Person Event to
This panel will discuss Partnership for the Bay’s Future’s innovative model of policy change that facilitates community and government collaboration. This model ensures community leaders have a seat at the table and can better understand the inner workings of government, while also providing resources and insight to government officials as they craft policy.
If, in order to participate in a SPUR event, you need auxiliary aids or services for a disability (e.g., qualified interpreter, qualified reader, written materials, taped texts) please submit your request five business days before the event to [email protected] or 415-781-8726 x132. SPUR will work with you in identifying effective auxiliary aids or services that it can provide. If you need to cancel your request, please notify SPUR at least two business days before the event.