Thursday, November 12, 2020

Central Subway: Slowed by COVID-19 But Still Making Progress

Central Subway: Slowed by COVID-19 But Still Making Progress
By Phillip Pierce

The Central Subway is a transformational transportation project that will extend the T Third underground to Chinatown through some of the busiest and densest parts of our city. While this mega-project is nearing completion, we are unfortunately delayed a few months due to COVID-19 and other complexities. 

Before the pandemic, we anticipated that construction would be finished by the end of next month, with customers riding trains at the start of revenue service a year later. Our current projections put the completion of construction this spring and the start of service in the following spring of 2022. 

Picture of a corridor in the future Moscone Station

View of the sleek concourse at the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. 

The main reasons for this delay: 

  • Moving to remote work and instituting necessary safety measures and procedures during COVID-19 

  • Quarantining multiple contractor crews when, despite safety measures, some of the team tested positive for COVID-19 

  • Difficulties and delays in getting materials from suppliers during COVID-19 

  • Ongoing design changes throughout the project due to the differing site conditions discovered deep underground 

These delays will likely have impacts on the overall project budget, and we are working closely with our construction contractors to get the project completed as safely and prudently as possible. 

Highlights and Making Progress  

Granite etchings of construction photographs by artist Catherine Wagner installed at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station

Granite etchings of photographs by artist Catherine Wagner installed at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station 

Most importantly for our neighbors, the most disruptive construction is far behind us. The streets and sidewalks along Stockton Street in Union Square and Chinatown are reopened and most work is now deep underground. The last remaining closed street – one block of Washington Street in Chinatown - will be reopened around the end of the year.  

The vast majority of the project is now completed. The tunnels and tracks are done with crews now working on the final finishes, installing art and systems like automatic train control cabling, traction power and communications.  

We even added a ceremonial “Golden Spike” on 4th Street joining the new Central Subway railwith the existing T Third rail line. A golden spike was first used to celebrate when the rails from the east and west come together on the First Transcontinental Railroad – a tradition that many projects follow to this day. 

The project is a finalist for two International Tunneling Association Awards. The Chinatown–Rose Pak Station is a  "Project of the Year” contender. The Union Square/Market Street Station’s innovative design for the battered drilled shafts support system are also nominated.  

Crews have installed some of the public art  – including a kinetic sculpture at 4th and Brannon station, granite etchings inside Yerba Buena/Moscone (photo above) and a light installation at Union Square/Market Street.

Some of the final decorative panels being installed at the platform level in Chinatown–Rose Pak Station

Some of the final decorative panels being installed at the platform level in Chinatown–Rose Pak Station 

Central Subway Facts 

Once in operation, the Central Subway will greatly reduce travel times and increase capacity along the congested Stockton Street and 4th Street corridor while enhancing connections to BART, Muni Metro, Chase Center, Oracle Park and Caltrain.  

The Central Subway route starts across from Caltrain at King Street, runs along 4th Street on surface, transitions into underground tunnels with a portal under the I-80 freeway, the tunnel crosses under the BART and Muni Metro tunnels beneath Market Street, and continues under Stockton Street to Washington Street. With an above ground stop in SoMa at 4th and Brannan, and subway stations at Yerba Buena/Moscone Center, Union Square/Market, and Chinatown – Rose Pak, the Central Subway will vastly improve transit access for the residents in areas of the city, such as Chinatown, that have limited transportation options. 

By extending the T Third line, the Central Subway will not only make new connections, but will also increase overall service in Visitacion Valley, the Bayview, and Dogpatch neighborhoods.

Lots of natural light and exposed concrete from the skylights for the entrance underground at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station.

Lots of natural light and exposed concrete from the skylights for the entrance underground at Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. 

Floors, ceiling panels, finishes and color-changing LED light art installation by Erwin Redl 

Floors, ceiling panels, finishes and color-changing LED light art installation by Erwin Redl 

The platform at the future Union Square station

Platform level with finished floors and transit information signs up at Union Square/Market Street 



Published November 13, 2020 at 05:01AM
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New Bayview-Hunters Point Bus Express Route Alternatives: Vote by November 15

New Bayview-Hunters Point Bus Express Route Alternatives: Vote by November 15
By Enrique Aguilar

In response to deep community engagement, the SFMTA's FY 2021-22 Muni Service Equity Strategy and the Southeast Muni Expansion Project recommended adding express service from the Bayview to Downtown. The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on people of color and low-income people has made fast-tracking this service even more important. We are asking for feedback to help us identify the future route of this crucial new service. 

This new express bus service aligns with our transportation priorities as we respond to and recover from the pandemic. Adding capacity to routes that help San Franciscans make essential trips and prioritizing neighborhoods with high concentrations of essential workers and those most impacted by the pandemic are goals in SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan (TRP). This effort also minimizes travel time to reduce how long customers are in our vehicles, which are goals in our SFMTA’s Transportation Recovery Plan

The proposed route options are estimated to take about 36 to 45 minutes one-way from end to end. The new express route from Bayview-Hunters Point would improve access to downtown, provide shorter travel times and reflect the priorities of neighborhood residents. 

  A map with the three route alternatives represented by options A,B and C.

Proposed route alternatives for Bayview Hunters Point Express 

How We Came Up With the Options 

Due to the pandemic, the SFMTA project team formed a virtual Working Group that was instrumental in shaping the three route options.  Members of the Working Group were: 

  • Alyssa Jones Garner (CCSF)  

  • Earl Shaddix (Economic on Third, EDoT)  

  • Emily Rogers-Pharr (PUC)  

  • Frank Martinez (BMAGIC)  

  • Juanita Washington  

  • Lyslynn Lacoste (BMAGIC)  

  • J.R. Eppler  

  • Nicole Christian (SFMTA)

  • Raina Johnson  

The Working Group identified key priorities, downtown destinations customers wanted access to and providing other critical information to help the project team engage the greater Bayview Community to make a final decision.   

Photo of a storefront window, displaying the Bayview-Hunters Point Downtown Express Survey poster  

Signs posted at neighborhood businesses and Muni bus stops on 3rd Street. 

Please take our survey and vote on your preferred route alternative. The survey will be open until Sunday, November 15. Project staff will review feedback from the Bayview community and a final route identified. 

Bayview Express Survey (English) 

Bayview Express Survey (Spanish) 

Bayview Express Survey (Chinese) 

Bayview Express Survey (Filipino) 

Please visit the Bayview-Hunters Point Express page for more information. 



Published November 13, 2020 at 01:41AM
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Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Can't pay your fare? We Can Help.

Can't pay your fare? We Can Help.
By Bradley Dunn

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit people hard.  Millions of people across the country have lost their jobs or lost their incomes.  When times are tough, even paying for the bus can be a challenge.  During times like these, the SFMTA has programs to help get you where you need to go, like Free Muni for Youth, Seniors and People with Disabilities, the Lifeline and Clipper START reduced fare program and our Essential Trip Card

Reduced Muni Fares for Low-Income San Franciscans 

 

Lifeline is a Muni-only monthly pass for customers on a limited income. Lifeline customers get unlimited access to Muni service for a calendar month at a 50% discount off the standard adult monthly pass price. Individuals with a gross annual income (before taxes) at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible to receive the Lifeline pass.

Federal Poverty Level:

Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6
Annual Household Income $25,520 $34,480 $43,440 $52,400 $61,360 $70,320

 

Currently, Lifeline program applications and requests for replacement cards are being accepted online or by mail, and expired Lifeline passes have been extended until April 2022.  

Lifeline pass holders may also qualify for the Clipper START fare program, a new regional discount program that provides a 50% single ride fare discount to those who qualify for Lifeline, which is a great option if you qualify for Lifeline, but don't ride enough to need a monthly pass.  

You can apply for a Lifeline pass: 

Free Muni for Youth, Seniors and People with Disabilities 

This program provides low- and moderate-income youth, seniors and people with disabilities residing in San Francisco free access to Muni service when using a Clipper card.  

All San Francisco seniors, ages 65+, youth ages 5 to 18, and people with disabilities with a gross annual family income at or below 100 percent of the Bay Area median income level are eligible for the program according to the chart below:

Qualifying Income

Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

 Annual Household Income

$89,650 $102,500 $115,300  $128,100 $138,350 $148,600

$158,850

$169,100

 

 

 

You may apply by filling out the program application online or if you are unable to complete the online form, please mail a completed Program Application to: 

SFMTA Customer Service Center 
11 South Van Ness Avenue 
San Francisco, CA 94103 
ATTN: FREE MUNI 

Essential Trip Card 

The Essential Trip Card (ETC) – a discount program to help seniors and people with disabilities make essential trips in taxis during this crisis.  

The ETC will subsidize about two to three round trips by taxi per month for older adults (persons 65 and older) and people with disabilities. Eligible participants will pay 20% of the cost of a regular cab ride fare for essential trips.  The program uses taxis to take people on essential trips like going to the grocery store, pharmacy or another necessary medical trip during the shelter-in-place period. Customers who pay $12 will receive $60 value for taxi trips on a debit card.   

Together all these programs help make sure that every San Franciscan can access transportation during this difficult time. Even if you don’t qualify for one of these programs you can tell someone you know who would qualify for any of these programs and, make sure they apply. 



Published November 11, 2020 at 12:25AM
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