UCSF withdraws concerns over Warriors arena

Previous concerns over clogged traffic caused by a new Golden State Warriors arena in Mission Bay have been assuaged and a preliminary agreement has been reached to bring the University of California San Francisco on board with the plan.

A joint statement released today on behalf San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s office, UCSF, and the Golden State Warriors announced that the university “now officially endorses the Warriors’ proposed plan and project.”

UCSF had reserved their support for the Warriors arena until The City and the team adequately addressed the university’s concerns regarding increased traffic that could cause difficulty for patients needing to access the hospitals.

UCSF staff previously stated that patient safety needed to be ensured and that overlapping events at nearby AT&T Park could prove calamitous for patients trying to access care during an emergency.

According to the joint statement released Tuesday, the three parties have reached preliminary agreements on measures to protect patient safety by effectively managing traffic and facilitating access to the hospitals.

Mayor Lee said:

“I’m happy to announce that we’ve reached a consensus on the most critical issues, and now we’re ready to move forward — together.”

Before the preliminary agreements take effect and UCSF’s concerns are addressed, an environmental impact report and public hearing process for the Warriors’ stadium must be completed.

The City’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, as well as various city commissions and the Board of Supervisors, must also approve the project and take actions.

A statement released today by Sam Singer, spokesman for the Mission Bay Alliance, said the agreement “accomplishes nothing but permanent gridlock and life-threatening delays for San Francisco.”

The Mission Bay Alliance states that it represents UCSF stakeholders, donors, faculty, physicians and “the working men and women of San Francisco who are concerned about the impact of the proposed Golden State Warriors’ stadium on the future of the vibrant community and medical campus at Mission Bay.”

The alliance maintains that the arena violates portions of the California Environmental Quality Act, including severe traffic congestion and compromised emergency access.