Court orders work on Muni streetcar loop in Dogpatch stopped

Residents of San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood won a round in court, which ordered construction work suspended on a long-planned Muni streetcar loop in the area. Residents of San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood won a round in court, which ordered construction work suspended on a long-planned Muni streetcar loop in the area. Photo: Liz Hafalia / Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Photo: Liz Hafalia / Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Court orders work on Muni streetcar loop in Dogpatch stopped 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

A state appeals court suspended construction work Tuesday on a long-planned Muni streetcar loop on Third Street in San Francisco’s central waterfront area, a project that some neighbors say should be rerouted.

The turnaround on the T-Third line in the city’s Dogpatch neighborhood would run along 18th, 19th and Illinois streets just south of Mission Bay and provide a link to the planned Central Subway, due to open in 2019. The loop was part of a light-rail project that the city’s Public Transportation Commission approved in 1999, but construction was first authorized in September, after San Francisco secured a $10 million federal grant.

The work was scheduled to be completed in October. But the First District Court of Appeal issued a stay Tuesday of any orders for demolition, excavation or construction while it considers the case, and scheduled written arguments through March 27.

The lawsuit by a group of residents and business owners contends the city’s 15-year-old environmental assessment has become obsolete because of an influx of apartments, condominiums and stores in the neighborhood.

“The area has mushroomed,” said Bill Schwartz, a local businessman and plaintiff in the case. He said the loop would cause noise and traffic congestion at its planned location and would be less disruptive if it were rerouted about six blocks south to an existing Muni yard.

Deputy City Attorney Audrey Pearson said the 1999 study had thoroughly assessed the project, including the prospects for future growth in the area. She said Tuesday’s court order, by itself, shouldn’t interfere with future streetcar service, but any delay in a city contract poses potential problems.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko