West Portal station

Last updated

Muni worm logo.svg West Portal
S Shuttle train at West Portal station, August 2023.jpg
An inbound train at West Portal station in August 2023
General information
LocationWest Portal Avenue at Ulloa Street
San Francisco, California
Coordinates 37°44′27.27″N122°27′57.58″W / 37.7409083°N 122.4659944°W / 37.7409083; -122.4659944
Line(s) Twin Peaks Tunnel
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsAiga bus trans.svg Muni: 48, 57
Construction
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedFebruary 3, 1918 [1]
Rebuilt1978–1980
Services
Preceding station BSicon LOGO SFmuni.svg Muni Following station
West Portal and 14th Avenue
towards Balboa Park
K Ingleside Forest Hill
towards Embarcadero
Ulloa and 14th Avenue
towards SF Zoo
L Taraval
Suspended
West Portal and 14th Avenue
towards San Jose and Geneva (Balboa Park)
M Ocean View
Terminus S Shuttle
Location
West Portal station

West Portal station is a Muni Metro station in the West Portal neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is built around the western entrance to the Twin Peaks Tunnel. The station consists of two side platforms, with the entrance at the western end. A non-accessible footbridge connects the platforms inside fare control.

Contents

History

Former street-level stop outside Twin Peaks Tunnel in 1967 MUNI Double-Ended PCC Cars -- 3 Photos (26278928203).jpg
Former street-level stop outside Twin Peaks Tunnel in 1967

Opening in 1918, the station originally was similar to a regular curbside stop at the entrance to the tunnel. But when streetcar system was partially converted to light rail in the late 1970s, the existing underground metro station was built in its place. The BART Board approved the name "West Portal" in December 1965. [2]

On July 18, 2009, the West Portal station was the scene of a collision between a K Ingleside train and a L Taraval train. An estimated 44 people were injured. [3]

The station was temporarily closed from June 25 to August 24, 2018, during the Twin Peaks Tunnel shutdown. [4] A crossover just east of West Portal station, installed during the shutdown, was named the Malcolm Heinicke Crossover after a former SFMTA board member in July 2020. [5]

West Portal is a bottleneck for Muni Metro trains in all directions, as automobiles blocking train traffic momentarily can cause cascading delays. During the shutdown, new switches and a new control panel were installed to improve manual operation of the intersection. In 2019, parking control officers were assigned to direct traffic through the unsignaled intersection, which reduced delays by 40%. [6]

As part of August 2020 changes to Muni Metro, the K and L were through-routed as an all-surface line, with frequent S Shuttle service between West Portal and Embarcadero. Mini-high platforms were constructed on Ulloa Street at West Portal to provide accessible transfer between the K/L and subway trains. [7] The forced transfer at West Portal was criticized by disability advocates. [8]

On March 16, 2024, a motorist in an SUV crashed into the L Taraval bus stop at the station, killing a family of four. [9] In April 2024, the city announced plans for changes to the intersection including transit lanes and turn restrictions. [10] On July 16, 2024, the SFMTA approved a modified package of changes that included fewer transit lanes and turn restrictions, as well as a redesign of the "horseshoe" area at the station entrance into a pedestrian plaza. [11] [12] [13]

Related Research Articles

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

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's light rail lines saw an average of 75,500 boardings per day as of the first quarter of 2024 and a total of 24,324,600 boardings in 2023, making it the sixth-busiest light rail system in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L Taraval</span> Light rail line in San Francisco, California

The L Taraval is a hybrid light rail/streetcar line of the Muni Metro system in San Francisco, California, mainly serving the Parkside District. Since 2021, the line has been suspended and replaced by buses until the end of 2024 for an improvement project along Taraval Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M Ocean View</span> Light rail line in San Francisco, California

The M Ocean View is a light rail line that is part of the Muni Metro system in San Francisco, California. Named after the Oceanview neighborhood, it runs between San Jose and Geneva and Embarcadero station, connecting Oceanview, San Francisco State University, and Stonestown Galleria with the city center. The line opened on October 6, 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K Ingleside</span> Light rail line in San Francisco, California

The K Ingleside is a hybrid light rail/streetcar line of the Muni Metro system in San Francisco, California. It mainly serves the West Portal and Ingleside neighborhoods. The line opened on February 3, 1918, and was the first line to use the Twin Peaks Tunnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J Church</span> Light rail line in San Francisco, California

The J Church is a hybrid light rail/streetcar line of the Muni Metro system in San Francisco, California. The line runs between Embarcadero station and Balboa Park station through Noe Valley. Opened on August 11, 1917, it is the oldest and has the lowest ridership of all of the Muni Metro lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin Peaks Tunnel</span> Light rail tunnel in San Francisco, California

The Twin Peaks Tunnel is a 2.27-mile-long (3.65 km) light rail/streetcar tunnel in San Francisco, California. The tunnel runs under Twin Peaks and is used by the K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View and S Shuttle lines of the Muni Metro system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Market Street subway</span> BART-Muni Metro main line, San Francisco

The Market Street subway is a two-level subway tunnel that carries Muni Metro and BART trains under Market Street in San Francisco, California. It runs under the length of Market Street between Embarcadero station and Castro station. The upper level is used by Muni Metro lines and the lower level is used by BART lines. BART does not run through the whole subway; it turns south and runs under Mission Street southwest of Civic Center/UN Plaza station. The northeastern end of the BART level is connected to the Transbay Tube. On the Muni Metro level, the southwestern end of the Market Street subway connects to the much-older Twin Peaks Tunnel, and the northeastern end connects to surface tracks along the Embarcadero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 17th Avenue station</span> Rail station

Taraval and 17th Avenue station is an eastbound-only light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The stop opened with the first section of the L Taraval line on April 12, 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 19th Avenue station</span>

Taraval and 19th Avenue is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The stop opened with the first section of the L Taraval line on April 12, 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 22nd Avenue / Taraval and 23rd Avenue stations</span>

Taraval and 22nd Avenue / Taraval and 23rd Avenue stations are a pair of light rail stops on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The eastbound stop is located on Taraval Street and 22nd Avenue, while westbound trains stop on Taraval Street at 23rd Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 30th Avenue station</span>

Taraval and 30th Avenue is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The station opened with the first section of the L Taraval line on April 12, 1919; irregular shuttle service had run on a United Railroads line since around 1910.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 32nd Avenue station</span>

Taraval and 32nd Avenue is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The station opened with the first section of the L Taraval line on April 12, 1919; irregular shuttle service had run on a United Railroads line since around 1910. Nearby 33rd Avenue was the outer terminus of the line until the extension to 48th Avenue on January 14, 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and Sunset station</span>

Taraval and Sunset is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The station opened with the second section of the L Taraval line on January 14, 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 40th Avenue station</span>

Taraval and 40th Avenue is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States. The station opened with the second section of the L Taraval line on January 14, 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 42nd Avenue station</span> Train station in San Francisco, California, U.S.

Taraval and 42nd Avenue is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The station opened with the first section of the L Taraval line on January 14, 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taraval and 44th Avenue station</span> Muni Metro station in San Francisco

Taraval and 44th Avenue is a light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The station opened with the second section of the L Taraval line on January 14, 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">46th Avenue and Taraval / Taraval and 46th Avenue stations</span>

46th Avenue and Taraval (eastbound) and Taraval and 46th Avenue (westbound) are a pair of one-way light rail stops on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving and 8th Avenue / 9th Avenue and Irving stations</span>

Irving and 8th Avenue / 9th Avenue and Irving stations are a pair of one-way light rail stops on the Muni Metro N Judah line, located in the Sunset District neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The eastbound stop is located on Irving Street at 8th Avenue, while westbound trains stop on 9th Avenue at Irving Street. The station has transit bulbs which extend the sidewalk of Irving Street and 9th Avenue to meet trains like a side platform, allowing passengers to board or depart from trains. The station is not accessible to people with disabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Avenue and Taraval station</span>

15th Avenue and Taraval station is a westbound-only light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The station opened with the first section of the L Taraval line on April 12, 1919. Eastbound trains stop at the nearby Taraval and 17th Avenue station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulloa and 14th Avenue station</span> Light rail stop in San Francisco, United States

Ulloa and 14th Avenue station is a future light rail stop on the Muni Metro L Taraval line, located at the intersection of Ulloa Street and 14th Avenue in the West Portal neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The stop is planned to open in 2024, replacing former stops at 15th Avenue and at Forest Side Avenue. The stop will not have platforms; passengers will wait on the sidewalk on the near side of the intersection.

References

  1. ↑ Perles, Anthony (1981). The People's Railway: The History of the Municipal Railway of San Francisco. Interurban Press. p. 70. ISBN   0916374424.
  2. ↑ "Names Approved for 38 Rapid Transit Stations Around Bay". Oakland Tribune. December 10, 1965. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "44 hurt after rail cars collide in San Francisco". CNN.com. July 18, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Twin Peaks Tunnel Improvements". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Malcolm Heinicke: A Celebration of Accomplishments" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. July 28, 2020.
  6. ↑ Swan, Rachel (February 25, 2019). "Muni puts bottleneck under microscope in effort to curb bus, rail delays". San Francisco Chronicle.
  7. ↑ "West Portal LK Transfer Project". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. June 23, 2020.
  8. ↑ Graf, Carly (August 18, 2020). "Muni 'improvements' could make things harder for seniors, accessible". San Francisco Examiner.
  9. ↑ Burn, Joe; Leahy, Garrett (March 19, 2024). "Family members identified after deadly wrong-way driving crash in West Portal". The San Francisco Standard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024.
  10. ↑ Umanzor, Joel; Leahy, Garrett (April 18, 2024). "After deaths of 4 in West Portal, San Francisco plans major traffic changes". The San Francisco Standard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024.
  11. ↑ "This Print Covers Calendar Item No.: 11". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. July 16, 2024.
  12. ↑ "West Portal Station Safety and Community Space Improvements". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. July 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ Cano, Ricardo (July 16, 2024). "Street safety changes are coming to S.F.'s West Portal. Here's when they take effect". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024.

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