Having lost their CEQA appeal with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the "tech bus" opponents are taking their case to the court, arguing that environmental impacts from the large, luxury private buses using public bus stops must be addressed.
The Board of Supervisors had voted 8-2 on April 1 to reject the appeal of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) approval of the 18-month pilot bus program filed by the coalition of tenant and labor activists who view the buses as both a symbol and cause of city gentrification that results in escalating housing costs. Without the buses, workers in Silicon Valley might live closer to work or elsewhere, they reason.
"The City contends that the pilot is exempt from environmental review [a requirement of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)] because its intent is data collection," writes The Examiner's Joshua Sabatini.
The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday (May 1) in San Francisco Superior Court, asks a judge to prevent the commuter shuttle program from going forward as conceived. It argues California Vehicle Code only allows public buses to pull into red zones or Muni bus stops. The lawsuit also alleges that an environmental review must take place to address impacts ranging from displacement of tenants to pollution.
Sabatini adds that "(p)laintiffs' attorney Richard Drury said they will also consider filing a preliminary injunction to ask a judge to prevent the pilot from launching until the lawsuit is settled." It is unclear if the injunction would shut down the existing operation of tech buses, or if the pilot program, set to begin July 1, would have to wait until it underwent the rigorous CEQA process.
"Under the terms of (the pilot program), employers and shuttle operators will pay to use 200 of Muni’s 2,500 bus stops, addressing concerns that the shuttles are using taxpayer-funded transportation facilities and right-of-ways without compensating the public for the extra strain on the system," as we noted here in January.
The benefits of the shuttle bus program, according to the city's January press release, include "eliminating at least 45 million vehicle miles traveled and 761,000 metric tons of carbon every year from the region’s roads and air.”
FULL STORY: SF group seeks to halt tech bus pilot program
Tech Shuttle Pilot Might Stick Around San Francisco
They're hated by many, blamed for the city's gentrification, but are an integral part of regional transportation, enabling tech employees to work on the Peninsula and South Bay while living in the city. A city-approved pilot may become permanent.
The Downside of Removing Tech Buses from Neighborhoods
A new study has shown that moving tech shuttle stops from neighborhoods to conform to a new "hub plan" would result in a drop in bus ridership, with most former riders resorting to driving their own vehicles to their Silicon Valley workplaces.
Google Bus Opponents Argue Need for CEQA Study in San Francisco Superior Court
On Friday, tech bus opponents took their case to court, arguing that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act due to impacts including air quality and community displacement.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research