Welcome!
Welcome to the official Central Subway project blog!
We intend for this blog to serve as a forum for open communication with Muni customers and public transit enthusiasts, so we welcome your questions and encourage feedback. For the latest Central Subway news and updates, check back often (or subscribe to the blog) and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. If you’re not familiar with the project, we’ve outlined the basics below. If you need more information, check out our updated Web site or leave us a comment.
The Central Subway
The Central Subway, a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) project, is a rail restoration initiative that will reinstate a north/south rail connection for the City. Up until 1951, San Francisco enjoyed north/south rail service in the early 1900’s, similar to the east/west subway on Market Street that we use today.
A critical transportation improvement, the Central Subway links neighborhoods in the southeastern part of San Francisco with the
retail and employment centers downtown and in Chinatown, and will provide much needed and improved transportation service to an under-served portion of the City. Fifty percent of the residents along the entire T Third line are without access to a vehicle and that number jumps to sixty percent for the residents along the Central Subway corridor. The bus routes (30, 45 and 9x – the 9x is scheduled to become 8x in December) currently serving Chinatown are overcrowded and the corridor is severely congested. The Central Subway will reduce surface congestion and provide faster service between Caltrain and Chinatown.
Project Funding
The total project cost (with contingency) is expected to be $1.57 billion, with the federal government contributing close to $1 billion that would otherwise not likely be invested in San Francisco. The funding breakdown by source follows:
- Federal contribution: $948.4 million
- State contribution: $342 million
- Local contribution: $287.9 million
The federal funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts program, and these funds can only be allocated to the designated project.
Timeline
The current timeline is:
- Early 2010 FTA Entry into Final Design approval
- Early 2010 Begin Construction – Utilities Relocation
- 2009 – 2013 Final Design
- Spring 2012 Full Funding Grant Agreement
- 2010 – 2017 Construction
- 2018 Begin Service
We want to hear from you.
Seriously, we really want to hear from you! Please contact us with any questions:
- Visit our web site (www.sfmta.com/central)
- Connect with us online: Twitter (@Central_Subway) and Facebook
- Email Central <dot> Subway @ sfmta <dot> com with specific questions
- Call the project information hotline: 415-701-4371
- Attend the Community Advisory Group’s (CAG) quarterly meetings
- Mailing address: Central Subway Project Office, 821 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
