Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Active Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board upholds planning department's CEQA exemption for 'Hairball' intersection bike-lane project
Summary
The Board affirmed the planning department's categorical exemption and denied an appeal challenging the SFMTA's Gerald Avenue/Bayshore bicycle-lane reconfiguration, rejecting claims of unusual circumstances and cumulative traffic impacts.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to uphold the Planning Department’s categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the SFMTA's Hairball intersection improvement project and denied an appeal challenging that determination.
The Hairball project covers segments of Gerald Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard and would add protected bicycle lanes, high-visibility crosswalks and minor restriping, while removing certain curbside parking spaces and loading zones. Planning staff and SFMTA officials described the work as paint and minor curb modifications that would not remove travel lanes or otherwise expand construction impacts.
Sherry George, an environmental planner at the Planning Department, told the board the department had reviewed whether the proposal fit the Class 1 (existing facilities) categorical exemption and concluded the project would not result in significant environmental impacts. George said the appellant’s claims — that the project’s restriping, parking removals and local cumulative projects created an ‘‘unusual circumstance’’ — did not constitute substantial evidence that would preclude use of the exemption.
SFMTA project manager Talia Lang explained the project addresses documented safety problems in the Hairball area, including a fatal pedestrian collision in 2013 and regular conflicts between trucks and cyclists. SFMTA staff said the proposed cross sections preserve travel-lane widths while adding protected bicycle space. Advocacy groups including the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition urged the Board to uphold the exemption on safety grounds.
Supervisor Cohen moved to affirm the Planning Department’s CEQA exemption and deny the appeal. Supervisor Ronan seconded the motion. The motion passed 11–0.
The Board’s action clears the way for the SFMTA to proceed with the planned bike-lane installations, subject to the usual project-level contracts and construction scheduling. Appellant briefing and Planning Department responses are in the administrative record for anyone seeking further technical detail about the CEQA analysis and the agency’s findings.
