Central Subway Blog

Our latest project newsletter is now available online. In it, we highlight recent project milestones and provide updates on what to expect in 2012. Articles feature the following topics:

• The status of our grant application with the Federal Transit Administration
• The major project milestones we expect to accomplish this year
• The dazzling public art installation planned for the Union Square/Market Street Station
• Recent progress we have made on the Chinatown Station
• The reroutes of Muni lines 30 Stockton and 45 Union/Stockton

You can also find information about our next Community Advisory Group meeting, which will be held on February 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church at 925 Stockton Street.

Utility Relocation for the Union Square/Market Street Station
Construction Outlook January 3 to January 20
(PDF available: Contract 1251 January 3 to January 20 Look Ahead)

Description of Work:

• Stockton Street (Geary to Post streets): Installation utility vaults and joint trench, AT&T and PG&E cut-over, water connections
  Anticipated Completion: May 2012
• Geary Street: Installation of high pressure water, joint trench, AT&T and PG&E cut-over, water connections
  Anticipated Completion: May 2012
• O’Farrell Street: Installation of joint trench, AT&T and PG&E cut-over, water connections
  Anticipated Completion: May 2012
• Ellis Street: Install conduits in CB2 basement, AT&T and PG&E cut-over, water connections
  Anticipated Completion: March 2012
• West side of Stockton Street (O’Farrell to Market streets): Demolish sidewalk and basement floor
  Anticipated Completion: June 2012

Construction is scheduled for seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., although night work may be necessary. Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum and the construction team will work to maintain a clean streetscape during and outside of construction hours.

The businesses along the construction route will remain open. The contractor will always maintain safe pedestrian access to all stores during business hours. Those traveling or working in the area can expect an increase in noise, dust and traffic as a result of the construction.

Standard traffic signs will be used to detour pedestrian and vehicle traffic and variable message signs have been placed on Geary Street, O’Farrell Street and Stockton Street to inform approaching traffic of detour routes.

Muni Service Impacts
During the utility relocation, the following Muni routes may experience delays:

• 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express
• 30 Stockton
• 38/38L Geary
• 45 Union-Stockton

Traffic Impacts

• Two right turn lanes are available for eastbound traffic on Ellis Street crossing Market onto 4^th Street.
• At all times only one lane of traffic will be available on Stockton Street between Sutter and Market streets.
• The open lane of traffic on Stockton Street will be available for Muni buses, taxis, tour buses and delivery trucks only.
• All private automobiles going to 4^th Street and other SoMa destinations will be required to take one of two detours.
• Two traffic detour options are in place to allow better access to the Union Square area and to aid the flow of traffic:
  • Option 1: Divert west on Sutter Street, south on Mason Street, east on Eddy Street, south on Cyril Magnin Street, continue south across Market Street onto 5th Street, east on Folsom Street and south on 4th Street or
  • Option 2: Divert east on Post Street, south on Montgomery Street to New Montgomery Street, west on Howard Street and south on 4th Street.
• Parking Control Officers will be on hand to monitor traffic at the following times:
  • Post and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Geary and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • O’Farrell and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Garages within the construction zone are open and accessible using traffic detours.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the Central Subway project or construction, please call External Affairs Manager Brajah Norris and the Central Subway Outreach Team at 415-701-4371 or via e-mail at central.subway@sfmta.com. Project information is available at www.sfmta.com/central, the Central Subway blog, or via Twitter (@central_subway) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/centralsubway).

Suggested Traffic Detours

• Option 1: Divert west on Sutter Street, south on Mason Street, east on Eddy Street, south on Cyril Magnin Street, continue south across Market Street onto 5th Street, east on Folsom Street and south on 4th Street or
• Option 2: Divert east on Post Street, south on Montgomery Street to New Montgomery Street, west on Howard Street and south on 4th Street.

The letter below was written by the President/Owner of Synergy, Javad Mirsaidi, and submitted to the San Francisco Examiner on October 25, 2011.

Please click the thumbnail image below to view the PDF.

Trolley reroute map

Beginning Saturday, January 21, southbound Muni 30 Stockton and 45 Union-Stockton routes will travel on Mason and 5th streets to access the Caltrain Depot at 4th and Townsend streets.

With utility relocation continuing on the Central Subway Project in the Union Square area, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates Muni, will change the route of the southbound 30 Stockton and 45 Union-Stockton to accommodate construction along Stockton and 4th streets.

Routes 8X/8AX/8BX and 91 will temporarily travel their current routes; however, they will also be rerouted at a later date to accommodate additional construction activity.

All northbound service on these Muni routes will remain the same.

30 Stockton and 45 Union-Stockton Reroute:

Starting at the Stockton Tunnel, southbound service to 4th and Townsend streets (Caltrain) will be rerouted west on Sutter Street, south on Mason Street, east on Market Street and south on 5th Street.

Temporary Supplemental “8 Shuttle” Service:

Supplemental bus service in the area will be provided as the “8 Shuttle” running seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The shuttle will begin at Kearny and Pacific and proceed west on Broadway, south on Stockton to 4th Street, east on Folsom Street, north on 3rd Street to Kearny Street and terminate on Kearny at Pacific

Muni Service to Major Destinations:

• Union Square:  8 Shuttle, 8X Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union-Stockton
• Yerba Buena Gardens/Moscone Center: 8 Shuttle, 8X Bayshore Express, 12 Folsom-Pacific
• City College Downtown Campus:  8 Shuttle, 8X Bayshore Express
• AT&T Park: 10 Townsend, 30 Stockton, 45 Union-Stockton,  Muni Metro N and T rail lines
• Caltrain Station:  10 Townsend, 30 Stockton, 45 Union-Stockton, 47 Van Ness, Muni Metro N and T rail lines

30 Stockton / 45 Union-Stockton Trolley Reroute Brochure (PDF)

Following the holiday moratorium on construction, work will resume on Jan. 3, 2012.

The following traffic patterns will be enforced during the utility relocation project along Stockton and 4th streets:

• At all times, only one lane of traffic will be open on Stockton Street between Sutter and Market streets
• The open lane of traffic on Stockton Street will be available for taxis, buses and delivery trucks only
• All private vehicles will be required to use established traffic detours
• Garages within the construction zone are open and accessible via the established traffic detours
• Pedestrian access and a safe path of travel to businesses and residences will be maintained by the contractor at all times
• Noise and dust will be controlled in adherence to City Code

Let me start by agreeing with the general premise that the SFMTA can and must be better managed to better serve the people of San Francisco. I took the job of leading this agency to do just that. The challenges of the SFMTA did not develop overnight and won’t be erased overnight. I and thousands of others in the agency are working hard to improve Muni and all aspects of the SFMTA. While I don’t expect kudos for efforts alone, I do want San Franciscans to understand the challenges and that there are no easy solutions, such as “cut work orders and overtime.” Three recent themes that have graced these pages deserve a more balanced understanding.

Work orders
These are accounts used to pay for services provided by other government agencies, such as power to run the Muni buses and trains, customer service, legal advice and security. We use work orders to pay for services we need. For those services — such as maintenance or customer service — for which we have discretion over the provider, our alternatives are to perform the service ourselves or outsource, neither of which necessarily reduces cost nor obviates the need for the service.

Overtime
Two problems that have plagued SFMTA overtime are underbudgeting and overspending. With regard to the former, given the 24-7 nature of Muni service, it makes good financial sense to resource some of the scheduled service via overtime. With the use of part-time drivers, we’ll be able to reduce scheduled overtime, but not all of it. What will remain is service that’s cheaper to provide via overtime using existing staff, rather than regular time requiring additional staff.

We also have not adequately budgeted for special events that we must support; some of which we’re compensated for, most of which we’re not. On the overspending side, there is no doubt that with better and more active management, we can bring down some overtime costs. The demand for our services is not decreasing, so we need the person hours on the streets. To the extent we can cost-effectively do so through regular-time staffing, we will do so.

Cost overruns
A recent audit of SFMTA capital projects suggested significant overruns, which would be accurate when compared to the baseline budgets the auditors reviewed. However, many so-called overruns were due to added scope to meet city policy and community needs.

A good example is the Church/Duboce track replacement project. When we brought the initial project plan to the neighborhood, community groups and residents suggested broader improvements to pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety, as well as other enhancements. The SFMTA was able to partner with other departments and secure additional funding to make this a better project and more compliant with The City’s Better Streets Policy.

As to the suggestions that such “overruns” should be used to address the SFMTA’s operating budget shortfalls: using one-time capital revenues to plug ongoing budget gaps is bad policy.

While again acknowledging that there is much room for improvement in the management of the SFMTA — and I expect the SFMTA board, City Hall, and the people of San Francisco to hold me accountable to achieving improvement — it is important to recognize that costs due to labor, benefits and inflation increased the overall cost of providing service faster than available revenues could keep up. But the SFMTA was not able to reduce services in response.

We all want to have a great transportation system in San Francisco. I will certainly seek all available solutions and tackle all management challenges, and beyond that, we’ll need to work together as a community to understand what it will take to provide great transportation options and then have the will to provide it.

This article was printed in the Examiner on December 8.

In response to Quentin Kopp’s Op-Ed piece in the Examiner on Oct 23, please view the latest Central Subway Project FAQs.  This FAQ document presents the facts on a number of key issues raised by Mr. Kopp in his recent opposite-editorial in the SF Examiner on Oct. 23.  The project continues to make excellent progress on important milestones associated with project advancement and construction.

Utility Relocation for the Union Square/Market Street Station
Construction Outlook October 21 to November 18
(PDF available: Contract 1251 October 21-November 18 Look Ahead)

Description of Work:

• East side of Stockton Street (O’Farrell to Market streets): Installation of utilities, backfill and sidewalk restoration
  Anticipated Completion: October 2011
• Stockton Street (Geary to Post streets): Installation of utility vaults and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• Geary Street: Installation of utility vaults and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• O’Farrell Street: Installation of utility vaults and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• West side of Stockton Street (Geary to O’Farrell streets): Installation of joint trench and backfill (work is performed inside the basement underneath the sidewalk)
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• Sutter/Mason/5^th Streets: Installation of eyebolts and overhead system
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• Ellis Street: Installation of enclosure wall and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2012
• West side of Stockton Street (O’Farrell to Market streets): Construction to start in
  January 2012
  Anticipated Completion: May 2012

Construction is scheduled for seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., although night work may be necessary. Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum and the construction team will work to maintain a clean streetscape during and outside of construction hours. The businesses along the construction route will remain open. The contractor will always maintain safe pedestrian access to all stores during business hours. Those traveling or working in the area can expect an increase in noise, dust and traffic as a result of the construction. Standard traffic signs will be used to detour pedestrian and vehicle traffic and variable message signs have been placed on Geary Street, O’Farrell Street and Stockton Street to inform approaching traffic of detour routes.

Muni Service Impacts

During the utility relocation, the following Muni routes may experience delays:

• 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express
• 30 Stockton
• 38/38L Geary
• 45 Union-Stockton

Traffic Impacts

• Two right turn lanes are available for eastbound traffic on Ellis Street crossing Market onto 4^th Street.
• At all times only one lane of traffic will be available on Stockton Street between Sutter and Market streets.
• The open lane of traffic on Stockton Street will be available for Muni buses, taxis, tour buses and delivery trucks only.
• All private automobiles going to 4^th Street and other SoMa destinations will be required to take one of two detours.
• Two traffic detour options are in place to allow better access to the Union Square area and to aid the flow of traffic:
  • Option 1: Divert west on Sutter Street, south on Mason Street, east on Eddy Street, south on Cyril Magnin Street, continue south across Market Street onto 5th Street, east on Folsom Street and south on 4th Street or
  • Option 2: Divert east on Post Street, south on Montgomery Street to New Montgomery Street, west on Howard Street and south on 4th Street.
• Parking Control Officers will be on hand to monitor traffic at the following times:
  • Post and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Geary and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • O’Farrell and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Garages within the construction zone are open and accessible using traffic detours.

Contacts
If you have any questions about the Central Subway project or construction, please call External Affairs Manager Brajah Norris and the Central Subway Outreach Team at 415-701-4371 or via e-mail at central<dot>subway<at>sfmta<dot>com. Project information is available at www<dot>sfmta<dot>com/central, the Central Subway blog, or via Twitter (@central_subway) or Facebook (www<dot>facebook<dot>com/centralsubway).

Utility Relocation for the Union Square/Market Street Station
Construction Outlook October 1  to October 21
(PDF available: Contract 1251 October 1-October 21 Look Ahead)

Description of Work:

• East side of Stockton Street (O’Farrell to Market streets): Installation of utilities, backfill and sidewalk restoration
  Anticipated Completion: October 2011
• Stockton Street (Geary to Post streets): Installation of utility vaults and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• Geary Street: Installation of utility vaults and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• O’Farrell Street: Installation of utility vaults and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• West side of Stockton Street (Geary to O’Farrell streets): Installation of joint trench and backfill (work is performed inside the basement underneath the sidewalk)
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• Sutter/Mason/5^th Streets: Installation of eyebolts and overhead system
  Anticipated Completion: November 2011
• Ellis Street: Installation of enclosure wall and joint trench
  Anticipated Completion: March 2012
• West side of Stockton Street (O’Farrell to Market streets): Construction to start in
  January 2012
  Anticipated Completion: May 2012

Construction is scheduled for seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., although night work may be necessary. Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum and the construction team will work to maintain a clean streetscape during and outside of construction hours. The businesses along the construction route will remain open. The contractor will always maintain safe pedestrian access to all stores during business hours. Those traveling or working in the area can expect an increase in noise, dust and traffic as a result of the construction. Standard traffic signs will be used to detour pedestrian and vehicle traffic and variable message signs have been placed on Geary Street, O’Farrell Street and Stockton Street to inform approaching traffic of detour routes.

Muni Service Impacts

During the utility relocation, the following Muni routes may experience delays:

• 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express
• 30 Stockton
• 38/38L Geary
• 45 Union-Stockton

Traffic Impacts

• Two right turn lanes are available for eastbound traffic on Ellis Street crossing Market onto 4^th Street.
• At all times only one lane of traffic will be available on Stockton Street between Sutter and Market streets.
• The open lane of traffic on Stockton Street will be available for Muni buses, taxis, tour buses and delivery trucks only.
• All private automobiles going to 4^th Street and other SoMa destinations will be required to take one of two detours.
• Two traffic detour options are in place to allow better access to the Union Square area and to aid the flow of traffic:
  • Option 1: Divert west on Sutter Street, south on Mason Street, east on Eddy Street, south on Cyril Magnin Street, continue south across Market Street onto 5th Street, east on Folsom Street and south on 4th Street or
  • Option 2: Divert east on Post Street, south on Montgomery Street to New Montgomery Street, west on Howard Street and south on 4th Street.
• Parking Control Officers will be on hand to monitor traffic at the following times:
  • Post and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Geary and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • O’Farrell and Stockton streets: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Garages within the construction zone are open and accessible using traffic detours.

Contacts
If you have any questions about the Central Subway project or construction, please call External Affairs Manager Brajah Norris and the Central Subway Outreach Team at 415-701-4371 or via e-mail at central<dot>subway<at>sfmta<dot>com. Project information is available at www<dot>sfmta<dot>com/central, the Central Subway blog, or via Twitter (@central_subway) or Facebook (www<dot>facebook<dot>com/centralsubway).

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors released a resolution in support of the Central Subway Project and replacement housing.  The resolution supports “the expeditious completion of all requirements necessary to enter into a Full Funding Grant Agreement with the Federal Transit Administration for the Central Subway project” as well as “a project that will replace all demolished rent controlled units on a one for one basis at affordable levels and that provides relocation packages to all displaced households consistent with the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 and the approve Central Subway Relocation Impact Study and Last Resort Housing Plan that provide them with the opportunity to remain permanently in or near San Francisco’s Chinatown.”  The full resolution is available as a PDF.

The SFMTA released the following statement.

SFMTA Statement on Resolution Introduced by the Board of Supervisors Supporting the Central Subway Project

San Francisco—Edward D. Reiskin, Director of Transportation of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), today issued the following statement regarding the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ resolution to support the Central Subway Project, which was sponsored by all eleven members.

“As the federal government reviews the SFMTA’s application for a Full Funding Grant Agreement, the reaffirmation of support for the Central Subway Project is most welcome. Throughout both phases of the Third Street Light Rail Project, including the Central Subway, the elected family of San Francisco has stood firmly and consistently behind this project. They have joined their voices with the Mayor and our Congressional delegation, along with those of the surrounding communities to highlight its many benefits, such as providing rail service to the most densely developed areas of San Francisco, creating approximately 30,000 jobs and decreasing travel time between Chinatown and Visitacion Valley.”

The Press Release is available as a PDF.