- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Public Works
Public Works
Every day, Public Works employees work to protect your health, safety, and welfare by designing, building, and maintaining city infrastructure, facilities, and local transit/paratransit.
Please click here to receive Public Works update notifications.
View the 2023 City Hall Schedule here.
Public Notice - Major Disaster Declaration - FEMA-4683-DR-CA
We have three main divisions: Engineering, Maintenance and Transit.
Engineering Division
Engineering is responsible for the designing and managing capital improvement projects (like designing new bridges or park and playground improvements), as well as approving private development as it impacts the city right-of-way and city property. This division is also responsible for the citywide clean water program.
To view our standard details please click on the following link:
View Standard Details
To view our standard specifications please click on the following link:
To view the survey monuments list please click on the following link:
View Survey Monuments List
Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a Federal legislation designed to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to participate in programs, services and activities available to the general population. Title II is the section of the law that pertains to public agencies.
On a continuous basis, please notify us of any ADA-related deficiencies, hindrances or tripping hazards in the public right of way that you are aware of so that they could be evaluated and addressed. You can call 510.675.5308 report such locations to the Public Works Department.
Union City ADA Transition Plan Documents
DBE Policy Statement / FTA DBE Program
The City of Union City receives Federal financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and, as a condition of receiving this assistance, has signed an assurance that it will comply with 49 CFR Part 26. The City signed an agreement with Caltrans for implementation of the State DOT DBE program for Federal Highway (FHWA) funds. The City has established a separate DBE program for DOT grants administered by FTA.
The City’s DBE Policy Statement and the DBE Program for FTA-funded projects can be reviewed below:
Maintenance Division
Maintenance has three main components:
- Building and Grounds
- Garage
- Streets
The Streets unit maintains our pavement, sidewalks, street sweeping, and storm drain system. Every year before storm season, they clean out every storm drain in Union City of debris and garbage that could cause flooding. They also have a routine schedule for sidewalk maintenance, and are constantly repairing sidewalks and potholes.
Building and Grounds does the landscaping of city parks, street trees and medians, sound/retaining walls, and city buildings and facilities, keeping our parks green and gorgeous. During the drought, they came up with solutions to keep our grass healthy while using less water.
Lastly, the Garage unit manages fuel and maintenance for City vehicles and heavy equipment. They handle many day-to-day tasks that keep our city prepared for anything.
Street Sweeping Routes and Information
IMPORTANT:
FOR THE PAST YEAR THE CITY HAD STOPPED ISSUING TICKETS FOR SWEEPING VIOLATIONS IN THE AREAS DESIGNATED FOR PARKING RESTIRCTIONS ON STREET SWEEPING DAYS DUE TO THE COVID 19 EPIDEMIC. BUT ON MARCH 2021, TICKETING HAS ONCE AGAIN RESUMED IN THOSE AREAS POSTED WITH STREET SWEEPING RESTRICTIONS.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REMEMBER TO MOVE YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TIMES ON THE DAYS POSTED.
THANK YOU.
Every public street within the city is swept twice a month. The Streets Division of the Public Works Department maintains 243 curb miles of city roadways. In some areas of the city, parking is restricted on designated street sweeping days.
Street sweepers are primarily designed to remove hazardous hard metals and pollutants from the streets; they are not designed to clean up leaves (which can be composted). Street sweepers also have to avoid piles of leaves in the roadway because of potential hazards like tree branches or other debris that may be hiding in the pile, which can damage street sweepers. We ask residents not to rake leaves into piles in the street—piles can clog gutters and drains, and damage our street sweepers. Please put leaves into your green bin to compost them.
- View the street sweeping calendar for 2023
- View the street sweeping routes map
- View the list of Union City streets
For more information, Submit Inquiry.
Here are a few tips to help keep our streets clean and clear:
- Move vehicles off the street on street-sweeping days
- Keep basketball hoops out of the streets and gutters
- Place leaves in large the green recycling cart for collection
- Do not pile leaves or debris in the gutter; sweepers will go around them
- A clean sweep means your street looks good and there’s less dirt and debris going down the storm drain and polluting the Bay
Graffiti Removal
If you see "tagging" in progress, DO NOT confront the suspects directly. Call UCPD immediately at 510.471.1365.
To notify Public Works of graffiti in your neighborhood submit inquiry.
Who Removes Graffiti?
You’ve probably seen him driving around town, towing a 16-foot trailer. The Graffiti Buster is an employee of the city’s Public Works Department. This employee removes graffiti on public property and from private property with a fee if the graffiti is visible from a public space.
How is Graffiti Removed?
When the Graffiti Buster arrives at a site that has been "tagged," he will inspect the damage and determine the proper method for removal. A power-wash unit is used for blasting away spray paint, especially from sidewalks. Inside the long trailer, ten large hoppers are filled with a wide variety of paint colors. If a particular color is missing, no problem. The Graffiti Buster is equipped with a computer unit that allows the matching of colors, producing almost identical colors to the colors found on surfaces in need of repainting.
How much paint is needed to cover graffiti in Union City?
The Graffiti Buster uses 25 to 30 gallons of paint a week to cover up unsightly graffiti.
How can I help?
The key to Union City’s award-winning anti-graffiti campaign is a quick response to citizen complaints. The Graffiti Buster tries to remove graffiti within 48 hours.
To report graffiti in your neighborhood, submit inquiry.
If you’d like, please leave contact information so we can notify you of status.
Trees in Union City
The goal of the City’s Urban Forestry Program is to encourage an attractive and healthy urban forest to benefit the community. Among the many benefits trees provide:
- One acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people every day.
- A single large tree can release up to 400 gallons of water into the atmosphere each day.
- Mature trees improve our aesthetic environment, absorb noise, and are shown to slow traffic, reduce stress and crime, and create a more peaceful environment.
- Trees improve property values. The addition of trees and shrubs can increase property values by 10—20%.
Permits are required for tree trimming or removal in Union City. If a tree on or in front of your property needs to be trimmed or needs service, download and view Union City’s Tree Service Permit Application.
Transit Division
Union City Transit, which is also listed in the left navigation sidebar, provides local bus systems with connections with BART trains, AC Transit, and the Dumbarton Express to areas outside the city. Union City Transit also includes Paratransit to serve all of our community. Read more about UC Transit.