E Embarcadero

Last updated

E Embarcadero
E Embarcadero logo.svg
Muni 1010 at Brannan station, August 2017.jpg
Streetcar 1010 at Brannan station in 2017.
Overview
StatusSuspended [1]
Owner San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)
Locale San Francisco, California
Termini
Stations18
Service
Type Heritage streetcar
System San Francisco Municipal Railway
Operator(s) San Francisco Municipal Railway
Rolling stock Double-ended historic Muni streetcars
History
Opened
  • January 10, 1998 (shuttle service)
  • August 31, 2008 (trial service) [2]
  • August 1, 2015 (weekend service)
  • April 23, 2016 (full service)
ClosedMarch 17, 2020 [1]
Technical
Line length3.3 miles (5.3 km)
CharacterMostly in dedicated median; some shared lanes
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line,  600 V DC
Route map

Contents

BSicon uexCONTg.svg
proposed
Fort Mason extension
proposed extension
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Fort Mason
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BSicon uexHST.svg
Van Ness
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BSicon uexSTR.svg
BSicon lDRH.svg
BSicon HUB3.svg
BSicon unKSTReq.svg
BSicon HUB1.svg
BSicon uexHST.svg
BSicon HUBc4.svg
Beach and Hyde
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BSicon ldHSTACC.svg
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Jones and Beach
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BSicon uHSTACC.svg
Jefferson and Taylor
BSicon uHSTACC.svg
BSicon uSTRg.svg
Beach and Mason
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BSicon uINTACC.svg
Jefferson and Powell
Ferry symbol.svg
BSicon uHSTACC.svg
BSicon uSTRg.svg
Beach and Stockton
BSicon uedABZg+l.svg
BSicon dNULgq.svg
BSicon uexdSTRq.svg
BSicon uedABZg+r.svg
BSicon uSTRf.svg
BSicon uHSTACC.svg
The Embarcadero and Stockton
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BSicon dNULfq.svg
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The Embarcadero and Bay
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The Embarcadero and Sansome
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The Embarcadero and Greenwich
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The Embarcadero and Green
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The Embarcadero and Broadway
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The Embarcadero and Washington
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Ferry Building
Ferry symbol.svg
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F Market & Wharves logo.svg to Castro via Market Street
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The Embarcadero and Harrison
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The Embarcadero and Brannan
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2nd and King
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BSicon uSTRc1.svg
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BSicon lINTACC.svg
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BSicon uKINTACC+4xe.svg
Gnome-searchtool.svg 4th and King N Judah logo.svg
Caltrain roundel.svg T Third Street logo.svg
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proposed
Mission Bay extension
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proposed extension
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Mission Rock
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UCSF/Chase Center
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Mariposa
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Mission Bay Loop
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T Third Street logo.svg

The E Embarcadero is a historic streetcar line that is the San Francisco Municipal Railway's second heritage streetcar line in San Francisco, California. Trial service first ran during the Sunday Streets events on The Embarcadero in 2008. [2] The line initially ran on weekends only, [3] [4] but expanded to weeklong service in late April 2016. [5]

In March 2020, the line was suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as of 2023, the line is still not operating. [1] [6]

Route

The initial routing of the line is nearly identical to the defunct 32 Embarcadero bus line, which was discontinued after the F Market & Wharves line began operating along the Embarcadero in 2000. [7] It runs the length of the Embarcadero and San Francisco's segment of the Bay Trail, along pre-existing track used by the F Market & Wharves historic streetcar as well as the N Judah and T Third Street Muni Metro lines and previously unused track bypassing Market Street subway's Embarcadero portal. Service runs from Jones Street and Jefferson Street in Fisherman's Wharf to near the N Judah's platform at Caltrain's King Street and 4th Street Station in the Mission Bay neighborhood – the last trains of the day run to near the adjacent T Third platform at 4th and Berry. Since there is no loop at the Caltrain station, only double-ended streetcars are able to operate on the line until a loop track is built. [8]

Proposed extension

The disused Fort Mason Tunnel in 2017 West portal of Fort Mason Tunnel, June 2017.JPG
The disused Fort Mason Tunnel in 2017

An extension of the E Embarcadero to Aquatic Park is planned but is currently not fully funded. [9] The extension would relocate the terminus from Jones and Beach station to a new station on Beach street adjacent to Aquatic Park.

The line could be extended past Aquatic Park in the future by the National Park Service's proposal to extend the route through the existing Fort Mason Tunnel and into Fort Mason Center. As of 2018, the SFMTA was attempting to secure funding for engineering studies in order to advance the project. [10] [9] The extension would serve Fort Mason Center and the Marina district, identified by the NPS as areas with "inadequate regional transit access" and "limited transportation options for transit-dependent residents," [11] and providing those areas with a rail connection to regional transportation networks via the Market Street subway and the 4th and King Caltrain Station.

History

Muni's original E streetcar line was the E Union line, running north from the Ferry Building via The Embarcadero to Washington/Jackson streets, where it turned west to eventually reach the Presidio. This line was discontinued in 1947. [12]

Streetcar demonstration

Proposals for historic streetcar service along The Embarcadero were first put forward in 1974, and the first mention of separate E Embarcadero and F Market lines was in 1981. [13] In 1987, a temporary, demonstration streetcar service was operated along part of the Embarcadero as part of the 1987 San Francisco Historic Trolley Festival, to gauge public interest in, and the practicality of, a regular streetcar service. It ran along then-existing, but disused, San Francisco Belt Railroad tracks and operated two days a week for a little over five weeks, using two streetcars powered by electricity from portable diesel generators. [14]

Previous E Embarcadero service

Light rail service on the section of The Embarcadero south of Folsom Street and on King Street to the Caltrain Depot began on January 10, 1998, [15] using a Muni Metro shuttle line between Embarcadero Station and the Caltrain station. This temporary line was designated E Embarcadero, and it was discontinued when it was replaced in August 1998 by an extension of the N Judah line. [16] [17] [18] In 2007 the new T Third Street line also began operating on this extension.

Historic streetcar service

Historic streetcar service on The Embarcadero north of Don Chee Way began in March 2000 when the F Market & Wharves line was extended to Fisherman's Wharf. [19] That extension and the 1998 light rail extension to the Caltrain Depot make up almost the entirety of the E line route; they were connected by unused tracks on The Embarcadero between Don Chee Way and Folsom Street.

Later changes

The new E Embarcadero line operated on a temporary basis during the 2013 America's Cup yacht races.

On March 28, 2014, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) officially approved plans for weekend-only service of the E Embarcadero heritage streetcar line starting in summer 2015, with weeklong service starting the next year. [3] [4] Weekend operation officially began on August 1, 2015, [20] and weeklong service began on April 23, 2016. [5]

Service was suspended on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [1] [6] and as of January 2023 still has yet to resume. [21]

Station/Stop listing

Though the right-of-way is shared with the two Muni Metro lines on the South of Market (SoMa) segment, the stations themselves are not shared with Muni Metro because historic cars cannot access elevated median boarding platforms. For this reason, existing sidewalk-level stops adjacent to each raised light-rail stop are utilized for the E line. For stops north of Market, the line uses those of the existing F Market & Wharves line. All stations on the line are accessible.

Station/StopNeighborhoodConnections and Notes
InboundOutbound
Jones and Beach Fisherman's Wharf
Jefferson and Taylor Beach and Mason
Jefferson and Powell
The Embarcadero and Stockton Beach and Stockton
Inbound splits from The Embarcadero towards Jefferson Street; outbound joins The Embarcadero from Beach Street
The Embarcadero and Bay
The Embarcadero and Sansome BSicon PCC.svg F Market & Wharves logo.svg Market & Wharves
The Embarcadero and Greenwich
The Embarcadero and Green
The Embarcadero and Broadway BSicon PCC.svg F Market & Wharves logo.svg Market & Wharves
The Embarcadero and Washington
Ferry Building Financial District
The Embarcadero and Folsom SoMa
  • BSicon LOGO SFmuni.svg N Judah logo.svg
The Embarcadero and Brannan
2nd and King
4th and King

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Municipal Railway</span> Public transport agency in San Francisco, California, USA

The San Francisco Municipal Railway ( MEW-nee; SF Muni or Muni), is the primary public transit system within San Francisco, California. It operates a system of bus routes, the Muni Metro light rail system, three historic cable car lines, and two historic streetcar lines. Previously an independent agency, the San Francisco Municipal Railway merged with two other agencies in 1999 to become the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). In 2018, Muni served 46.7 square miles (121 km2) with an operating budget of about $1.2 billion. Muni is the seventh-highest-ridership transit system in the United States, with 114,721,200 rides in 2022, and the second-highest in California after the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muni Metro</span> Light rail system in San Francisco

Muni Metro is a semi-metro system serving San Francisco, California, United States. Operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), a part of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), Muni Metro served an average of 68,700 passengers per weekday in the first quarter of 2023, making it the seventh-busiest light rail system in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N Judah</span> San Francisco light rail line

The N Judah is a hybrid light rail/streetcar line of the Muni Metro system in San Francisco, California. The line is named after Judah Street that it runs along for much of its length, named after railroad engineer Theodore Judah. It links downtown San Francisco to the Cole Valley and Sunset neighborhoods. The line provides rail access to Golden Gate Park. It is the busiest line in the Muni Metro system, serving an average of 41,439 weekday passengers in 2013. It was one of San Francisco's streetcar lines, beginning operation in 1928, and was partially converted to modern light-rail operation with the opening of the Muni Metro system in 1980. While many streetcar lines were converted to bus lines after World War II, the N Judah remained a streetcar line due to its use of the Sunset Tunnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco 4th and King Street station</span> Train station in San Francisco, California, U.S.

San Francisco 4th and King Street station, also known as the Caltrain Depot, is a train station in the SoMa district of San Francisco, California. It is presently the northern terminus of the Caltrain commuter rail line serving the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley. It is also the eastern terminus of the N Judah and E Embarcadero, as well as a stop along the T Third Street of the Muni network. The station is additionally the projected terminus for the first phase of the California High-Speed Rail project and a station once Phase 2 is completed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Folsom station</span>

The Embarcadero and Folsom station is a Muni Metro light rail station located in the median of The Embarcadero between Folsom Street and Harrison Street in the Rincon Hill area of San Francisco, California. Muni Metro trains use a high-level island platform, while historic streetcars use a pair of side platforms at the southeast end of the station next to the Harrison Street grade crossing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Brannan station</span>

Brannan and The Embarcadero station is a Muni Metro light rail station located in the median of The Embarcadero south of Brannan Street in the South Beach area of San Francisco, California. Muni Metro trains use a high-level island platform, while historic streetcars use a pair of side platforms at the south end of the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd and King station</span> Light rail station in San Francisco, California

2nd and King station is a Muni Metro light rail station located in the median of King Street near Second Street in the China Basin neighborhood of San Francisco, California. It is adjacent to Oracle Park. Muni Metro trains use a high-level island platform, while historic streetcars use a pair of side platforms just to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Washington station</span>

The Embarcadero and Washington station is a light rail station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Washington Street. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Broadway station</span>

The Embarcadero and Broadway station is a light rail station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Broadway. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Green station</span>

The Embarcadero and Green station is a light rail station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Green and Davis Streets, adjacent to the Exploratorium. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Greenwich station</span>

The Embarcadero and Greenwich station is a light rail station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Greenwich Street. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Sansome station</span>

The Embarcadero and Sansome station is a light rail station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Chestnut and Sansome Streets. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Bay station</span>

The Embarcadero and Bay station is a streetcar station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Bay Street. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Embarcadero and Stockton station</span>

The Embarcadero and Stockton station is a light rail station in the Fisherman's Wharf district of San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on The Embarcadero at Stockton Street, in front of Pier 39. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jefferson and Powell station</span>

Jefferson and Powell station is a light rail station in the Fisherman's Wharf district of San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on Jefferson Street at Powell Street. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jefferson and Taylor station</span>

Jefferson and Taylor station is a streetcar station in the Fisherman's Wharf district of San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on Jefferson Street at Taylor Street. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jones and Beach station</span>

Jones and Beach station is a streetcar station in the Fisherman's Wharf district of San Francisco, California, serving as the terminus of the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on Jones Street between Beach and Jefferson Streets. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach and Mason station</span>

Beach and Mason station is a streetcar station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on Beach Street at Mason Street. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach and Stockton station</span>

Beach and Stockton station is a streetcar station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Municipal Railway's E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage railway lines. It is located on Beach Street at Stockton Street, near the Pier 39 shopping center and tourist attraction. The station opened on March 4, 2000, with the streetcar's extension to Fisherman's Wharf.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "COVID-19-related Service Changes". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency . May 20, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "E-Embarcadero Line Service for Sunday Streets". streetcar.org. Market Street Railway. August 28, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Bowen, Douglas John (March 31, 2014). "MUNI eyes new E train route". Railway Age . Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "E-Line Finally Budgeted...For 2016!". streetcar.org. Market Street Railway. March 30, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Hyden, Rachel (April 13, 2016). "Better, more frequent service coming April 23!". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Brinklow, Adam (March 23, 2020). "Bay Area public transit agencies cut hours and routes amid coronavirus outbreak". Curbed . Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  7. Epstein, Edward (September 8, 1999). "Muni Gets OK to Extend Streetcar Line to Wharf / Expanded service expected to be popular". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  8. Market Street Railway (June 16, 2015). "E-Line Startup Looks Set for July 25" . Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Rodriguez, Joe Fitzgerald (July 30, 2018). "Transit renaissance en route for northern waterfront". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  10. Rodriguez, Joe Fitzgerald (May 28, 2017). "Federal funding could drive forward tunnel's future". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  11. "Final Environmental Impact Statement for Extension of F-Line Streetcar Service to Fort Mason Center" (PDF). Golden Gate National Recreation Area San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. February 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  12. "San Francisco Transit Routes". Chicago Transit & Railfan Website. 2009. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  13. "Historic Streetcars". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  14. Jewell, Don (December 1987). "Muni [regular news column]". Pacific RailNews . pp. 38–39. ISSN   8750-8486. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019.
  15. Epstein, Edward (January 9, 1998). "Embarcadero Line On Track Tomorrow". San Francisco Chronicle. p. A-17. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  16. Taylor, Michael (April 6, 1998). "PAGE ONE – Muni's New E-Line No Beeline / Trains more tardy, irregular than buses – SFGate". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  17. Epstein, Edward (August 26, 1998). "Brown Tries To Soothe Muni Riders / Service on N-Judah line has been abysmal all week – SFGate". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  18. Epstein, Edward (January 9, 1998). "Muni's Embarcadero Streetcar Line Set to Make First Runs / First of improvements promised for this year". San Francisco Chronicle . Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  19. Epstein, Edward (March 2, 2000). "New way to the wharf; Merchants hope F–Market line will draw locals to tourist attractions". The San Francisco Chronicle . p. A20. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  20. Cestone, Vince (July 31, 2015). "New Muni E-Embarcadero Line to begin service this weekend". KRON-TV . Young Broadcasting. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  21. "E Embarcadero (Suspended)". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency . July 30, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2023.