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SFPUC presents draft EIR for Southern Skyline Ridge Trail; staff flags biological and circulation impacts under unsupervised access
Summary
The SF Public Utilities Commission presented a draft EIR for a 6‑mile Skyline Ridge Trail extension through Peninsula Watershed lands; the draft EIR finds significant unavoidable impacts to listed species and vehicle‑pedestrian conflicts at Highway 92 under unsupervised access scenarios and proposes permit‑based restricted access as a mitigation approach.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission presented a draft environmental impact report on July 23 for a proposed Southern Skyline Boulevard Ridge Trail extension through the Peninsula Watershed. SFPUC staff described three major project components: six miles of new trail south of Highway 92, acquisition of a trail easement north of Highway 92 currently held by the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, and universal‑access improvements at the cemetery gate.
Project scope and access options: Tim Ramirez, Natural Resources and Lands Management Division Manager for the PUC, said the EIR analyzes alternatives that range from supervised docent‑led access to a permit‑based restricted access program to full unsupervised access. The PUC is proposing a permit restricted program for the new trail south of Highway 92 while maintaining docent programs north of the highway.
Environmental findings: Staff said the draft EIR identifies significant and unavoidable impacts for unsupervised access variants, particularly risks to listed species — the San Francisco garter snake and Mission Blue butterfly host plants — and the potential spread of plant pathogens such as Phytophthora. The report also found that unsupervised access would raise safety and circulation concerns at the unmarked crossing of State Route 92, identified as a transportation impact.
Public input and next steps: Dozens of trail advocates, user groups and environmental organizations called in during an extended public comment period. Supporters from the Bay Area Ridge Trail and local recreation groups urged greater access and stressed benefits for public health and recreation; other commenters urged stronger biological protections, construction sequencing and mitigations for the Highway 92 crossing. The EIR public comment period remains open until 5 p.m. on August 10; SFPUC staff said the PUC will respond to verbal and written comments in a responses‑to‑comments document and may revise the draft EIR as appropriate.
Staff emphasized that this hearing is a comment period and not a project approval hearing; certification and any subsequent PUC approvals would follow after response to comments and final EIR work.
