Board upholds CEQA statutory exemption, clears way for Mid Valencia curbside protected bikeway

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 voted to affirm the Planning Department’s determination that the Municipal Transportation Agency’s Mid Valencia curbside protected bikeway project is statutorily exempt from environmental review under California Public Resources Code section 21080.25, commonly associated with SB 922. The board’s action effectively denied an appeal by local merchants and the community group Vamanos and cleared the way for SFMTA to begin construction of a side‑running curbside protected bikeway on an eight‑block section of Valencia Street.

Why it matters: Valencia is one of the city’s highest‑use north‑south bike corridors and has been a focus of recurring debate about how to balance pedestrian and cyclist safety with parking, loading, and small‑business recovery after the pandemic. Supporters argued the curbside design improves safety and access, while appellants said the project would harm historic character, remove parking critical to merchants, and should be reviewed under CEQA.

The appeal: Julio Ramos, representing appellant group Vamanos, told the board the project meets exceptions that would disqualify a categorical exemption and that the Planning Department had failed to consider potential impacts to historic resources and the corridor’s commercial character. Merchant David Quimby said many Valencia business owners had only recently seen the final design and did not have…