San Francisco MUNI Central Subway soft opening

[BCL]

It’s free on the first day, and it’s been pretty well used. I saw a few passengers about ready to use their Clipper cards until MUNI employees stopped them.

https://www.kron4.com/news/sfs-central-subway-open-to-public-with-free-weekend-shuttle/
There are apparently a lot of ethnic Chinese residents who moved to the southeast part of San Francisco and this will cut off a lot of time when taking MUNI to Chinatown. Eventually the T line is going to go all the way (in January) but now it’s just from near the ballpark to Chinatown.

 

[Willbridge]

It’s free on the first day, and it’s been pretty well used. I saw a few passengers about ready to use their Clipper cards until MUNI employees stopped them.

https://www.kron4.com/news/sfs-central-subway-open-to-public-with-free-weekend-shuttle/
There are apparently a lot of ethnic Chinese residents who moved to the southeast part of San Francisco and this will cut off a lot of time when taking MUNI to Chinatown. Eventually the T line is going to go all the way (in January) but now it’s just from near the ballpark to Chinatown.

Will this put a dent in the 30-Stockton trolley coach ridership?

 

[Bonser]

It’s free on the first day, and it’s been pretty well used. I saw a few passengers about ready to use their Clipper cards until MUNI employees stopped them.

https://www.kron4.com/news/sfs-central-subway-open-to-public-with-free-weekend-shuttle/
There are apparently a lot of ethnic Chinese residents who moved to the southeast part of San Francisco and this will cut off a lot of time when taking MUNI to Chinatown. Eventually the T line is going to go all the way (in January) but now it’s just from near the ballpark to Chinatown.

I've read that it's free until January. But weekend only service as noted here.

 

[MARC Rider]

Will this put a dent in the 30-Stockton trolley coach ridership?

It's been a while since I've been in San Francisco, but I seem to recall that the 30 Stockton was always very crowded and slow. Putting a dent in its ridership might be exactly what Muni is trying to do.

 

[BCL]

Will this put a dent in the 30-Stockton trolley coach ridership?

I’m pretty sure that’s the idea. I took it yesterday and it actually goes off the lines on battery only power.

 

[BCL]

So last week was the official opening of the T-line going from Chinatown all the way to Sunnydale. That replaced the old T-line that went to the Montgomery and Embarcadero stations and then went around The Embarcadero at street level before heading south.

It's going to be the preferred route to the ballpark and arena from BART. The previous preferred route was a transfer at the Embarcadero station to the T or any special service. Now it's at the Powell station which is connected to the Union Square/Market Street where the new T-line or special service connects. I went to a couple of Warriors games the last week and rode from both Chinatown to Chase Center. I did use the N to get to China Basin (near the ballpark) pregame, and that was a little bit different connecting to the T or S (shuttle).

https://www.sfmta.com/blog/new-t-third-route-central-subway-starting-january-7

 

[Fenway]

I rode it last week when the Bruins were in San Jose.

San Francisco had the luxury of building the MUNI Metro subway in the '70s underground making light rail equal to heavy rail, unlike Philadelphia and Boston. The average commuter is oblivious to the difference.

 

[joelkfla]

I rode it last week when the Bruins were in San Jose.

San Francisco had the luxury of building the MUNI Metro subway in the '70s underground making light rail equal to heavy rail, unlike Philadelphia and Boston. The average commuter is oblivious to the difference.

To what differences are you referring?

 

[BlackDiamond]

I rode it last week when the Bruins were in San Jose.

San Francisco had the luxury of building the MUNI Metro subway in the '70s underground making light rail equal to heavy rail, unlike Philadelphia and Boston. The average commuter is oblivious to the difference.

San Francisco putting the Muni Metro underground just made it the equivalent of what Boston already had since 1897

 

[joelkfla]

San Francisco putting the Muni Metro underground just made it the equivalent of what Boston already had since 1897

I agree. If @Fenway was referring to things like ease of access and condition, that's a function of station age, not light vs. heavy. Some of the oldest stations in the NYC Subway are not too dissimilar from the underground stations in Boston & PHL.

 

[GDRRiley]

San Francisco putting the Muni Metro underground just made it the equivalent of what Boston already had since 1897

its slowly happening with plans to do more in the future. The system is capable of becoming a light metro fairly easily.

 

[Fenway]

To what differences are you referring?

High platforms in the subway for light rail

 

[joelkfla]

High platforms in the subway for light rail

OK, fair point.

 

[Bonser]

Will this put a dent in the 30-Stockton trolley coach ridership?

I'm sure it will but that's a very good thing. The 30 Stockon is extremely crowded and slow but will remain useful for those getting off intermediate stops.

 

[BCL]

I'm sure it will but that's a very good thing. The 30 Stockon is extremely crowded and slow but will remain useful for those getting off intermediate stops.

I don't see it fading either. That's a very different line. I rode the 30 Stockton from the Presidio a few times, where it goes off the lines and runs on battery power.

The prime benefit of the Central Subway and the new T-line is that it will connect many Asian-American residents who live in the less expensive areas of San Francisco to Chinatown without having to do a lot of transfers. But obviously the 30 Stockton connects to a lot of other bus and light rail lines, like the 38 Geary. And absolutely it would be useful for those who might have difficulty walking.