After months of back and forth over traffic concerns, UCSF is now endorsing the proposed new Golden State Warriors arena in Mission Bay.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and the University of California chancellor issued a joint statement late Tuesday backing the arena.
P.J. Johnson, a spokesman for the Warriors, said the city agreed to spend $40 million from construction fees and taxes on a traffic plan to increase and enhance light rail service and close off selected streets on game days for the exclusive use of hospital employees, patients and local businesses.
In addition, a couple of dozen traffic control officers will also be posted in the area during gamedays.
The city is also committing to $10 million every year from the Warriors revenues to enhance and improve mass transit.
"The Central Subway is set to open in 2018, the same year the Warriors arena is set to open.
Locals said the Mission Bay neighborhood is growing.
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"Just about every spot along here is slated for building, so more traffic is coming," resident Steve Stroop said.
Sam Singer, a spokesman for a group of well-funded opponents, is undeterred by the UCSF endorsement.
"We think it's still early in the game and we're going to beat the Warriors and the city," Singer said.
Singer's group, the Mission Bay Alliance, is proposing the Warriors move 11 blocks south to Pier 80.
