Construction on streetcar loop along S.F. waterfront put on hold

A streetcar passes traffic at 3rd and King streets in San Francisco, Ca., on Thursday Dec. 12, 2013. On May 7, 2015, a state appeals court blocked further construction of a long-planned Muni streetcar loop in San Francisco’s central waterfront area a few blocks away while it considers a neighborhood group’s argument that the project should be rerouted. less A streetcar passes traffic at 3rd and King streets in San Francisco, Ca., on Thursday Dec. 12, 2013. On May 7, 2015, a state appeals court blocked further construction of a long-planned Muni streetcar loop in ... more Photo: Michael Macor / Michael Macor / The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor / Michael Macor / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Construction on streetcar loop along S.F. waterfront put on hold 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

A state appeals court has blocked further construction of a long-planned Muni streetcar loop in San Francisco’s central waterfront area while it considers a neighborhood group’s argument that the project should be rerouted.

The turnaround on the T-Third Street 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 this October. But the First District Court of Appeal issued a stay March 2 temporarily blocking any further orders for demolition, excavation or construction.

On Thursday, the court extended its stay until it rules on the case, in an order signed by Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline.

It scheduled written arguments through mid-July, with a ruling to follow at an unspecified date. The order did not state the reasons for the court’s action, but under legal standards, it means the court has found that opponents have raised “substantial questions” about the legality of the project.

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

“We’re happy that the court seems to think it warrants more close review,” said David Lanferman, the plaintiffs’ lawyer.

Lawyers for Muni offered no comment on the extension. In court papers, they said the loop was similar to “light-rail lines found throughout the city, including rail lines in residential areas,” and needed no further review.

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