Central Subway Blog

The tunneling contractor has begun installing below-ground walls to prepare for tunneling at this site on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets.

Since our last update, construction in Union Square and North Beach has paused for the holiday season, while work at two sites in SoMa has continued to move forward. In addition, work to install subsurface monitoring equipment has commenced in Chinatown.

Here’s what you can expect in the next three weeks as construction continues in SoMa and Chinatown:

• Tunnel Launch Box (4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets): The contractor will install beams across the below-ground walls that have been constructed around the perimeter of this site. Excavation and construction of an access ramp is also planned to begin. To facilitate construction, this block of 4th Street will remain closed to all vehicle traffic. The on-ramp to westbound I-80 at 4th and Harrison streets may be closed on weeknights from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. The sidewalk on the east side of the block will remain open to pedestrians. Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on current construction impacts at this site, please check out this construction notice.

• Yerba Buena/Moscone Station Tunnel Pre-Construction (4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets): The tunneling contractor has commenced installation of below-ground walls, called headwalls, at the site of the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. The walls will cross 4th Street at two points on this block. At least two lanes of traffic on 4th Street will remain open at most times; however, the block may be reduced to one lane for one night to facilitate work involving large cranes. The contractor will continue working on the western side of the block, with at least two lanes open on the east side of the street (left lanes for southbound traffic). Pedestrian controls will be in place during periods of sidewalk impact.

• Chinatown Subsurface Instrument Installation (Stockton Street between Sacramento Street and Broadway): Crews will continue installing subsurface instruments that will measure ground conditions related to the Central Subway tunnel. One lane of traffic on up to two approximately half-block sections of Stockton Street may be closed at a time during construction hours. Construction hours are Monday to Friday, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. More information is available in this construction notice.

We also post construction, auto detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

We appreciate your continued patience while construction is in progress.

Last week Central Subway crews restored portions of Stockton Street and Ellis Street in Union Square and Columbus Avenue in North Beach to prepare for a holiday season construction pause. On these blocks, roadways and pedestrian walkways were returned to their regular use in time for Thanksgiving.

Check out these photos of restoration in progress last week:

Stockton Street between Ellis and O’Farrell streets was paved and restriped last week.

Central Subway crews will continue building below-ground walls, called headwalls, at this location on Stockton Street early next year.

In North Beach, this lane was paved, and traffic has returned to normal on Columbus Avenue between Union and Powell streets.

During the holiday season, buses will stop as regularly scheduled at this bus stop, on Columbus Avenue at Union Street.

Construction will continue on this block of 4th Street (between Howard and Folsom streets). Last week crews restored the lanes shown here to prepare to begin work on the other side of the street.

For more information about Central Subway construction during the holiday season, check out this recent blog post.

When the Central Subway is complete, T Third Line trains will continue straight at the intersection of 4th and King streets instead of turning right onto King Street.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded $85 million in federal funding to the Central Subway Project. The funding, from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program, was awarded following approval last month of the Central Subway’s Full Funding Grant Agreement, the formal commitment of federal funding through New Starts.

“Today, San Franciscans sick of suffering the overcrowded 30 Stockton have something to celebrate,” said Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in a statement last week. “Thanks to the signing of the recent Full Funding Grant Agreement, we can applaud $85 million in funding for the Central Subway – creating jobs, expanding public transit and bringing our city closer together.”

The funds were included in the federal Transportation Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012. In total, New Starts will provide $942.2 million to extend the Muni Metro T Third Line through SoMa, Union Square and Chinatown.

This construction site near Union Square will be restored and reopened to traffic during the holiday season.

During the holiday season, construction at some currently active Central Subway construction sites will pause, with roadways and pedestrian walkways restored to regular use. At other sites, construction will continue.

This blog post provides a summary of construction impacts between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. For a complete listing of construction impacts, including work hours and traffic and pedestrian impacts, check out this press release from the SFMTA.

No construction will occur at any sites on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Construction will continue at this site in SoMa, with the full closure of this block of 4th Street planned to remain in effect between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Here’s what you can expect in SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach during the holiday season:

• Union Square (Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary, Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell): Construction will pause at the site of the future Union Square/Market Street Station. Stockton Street and Ellis Street will be paved and reopened to traffic by Thanksgiving Day. After New Year’s Day, this section of Stockton Street will again close to traffic, and construction on Ellis Street will also begin again.

• SoMa (4th Street between Harrison and Bryant): The contractor will work through the holiday season to construct a major excavation known as a launch box. 4th Street will remain closed to vehicle traffic. The sidewalk on the east side of the street will remain open to pedestrians. The on-ramp to westbound I-80 at 4th and Harrison may be closed on evenings and weekends.

• SoMa (4th Street between Folsom and Harrison): Starting in December, the contractor will be excavating shallow trenches on the east side of the road and installing pipes to be used for ground improvement related to tunneling. The easternmost lane (left lane for southbound traffic) may be closed during limited times during construction hours (Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).

• SoMa (4th Street between Folsom and Howard): Construction of below-ground walls, called headwalls, at the site of the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station will continue through the holiday season. At least three lanes on 4th Street will be open to traffic during regular construction hours (Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Night work may occur, and traffic may be reduced to two lanes between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The sidewalk on the western side of the street may be impacted. Pedestrian detours will be provided.

• Chinatown (Stockton Street between Sacramento and Vallejo): Construction will commence in December to install subsurface monitoring instruments related to the Central Subway tunnel. One lane on Stockton Street may be closed during construction hours in the vicinity of construction zones. Lane closures will impact traffic on up to two approximately half-block sections of Stockton Street at a time during construction hours (Monday to Friday, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.)

• North Beach (Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert): This construction site will be paved and reopened to traffic by Thanksgiving. Central Subway crews will not be working in this area during the holiday season; however, AT&T may be performing work related to the Central Subway. AT&T’s work will involve a crew of approximately two people working inside manholes. No street excavation will occur as part of AT&T’s work.

We wish you a happy holidays, and we thank you for your continued patience as construction progresses.

Construction at the site where tunneling will begin next year.

Along the Central Subway Project alignment, tunnel pre-construction has continued to progress at the four active construction sites. Since our last update, crews have completed construction of a sewer manhole and a sewer line in North Beach, and a portion of 4th Street has closed to facilitate construction of a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where tunneling will begin next year.

This construction update covers construction that will be underway from Saturday, November 10, until Wednesday, November 21. We will post an additional update soon with information about construction during the holiday season.

In the next week and a half, work will continue at the four active Central Subway construction sites, with traffic impacts planned to change at the following location:

• North Beach Utility Relocation (Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets): The contractor plans to begin work on the western (southbound) side of Columbus Avenue on Tuesday, November 13. The right lane for southbound traffic will be closed during construction hours (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). To facilitate construction, the southbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will be closed during construction hours. The nearest alternate bus stop for the 30 Stockton is on Columbus Avenue at Filbert Street. The nearest alternate stop for the 8X/8BX Bayshore Express is on Powell Street at Filbert Street. ***Update November 13: In North Beach, the contractor will no longer begin work on the western side of Columbus Avenue today. Work will continue on the eastern side of the street and in the median. The left lane for northbound traffic and the northbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will remain closed during construction hours. Both southbound lanes of traffic and the southbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will remain open.***

Construction at the site in SoMa where tunneling will begin next year.

Here’s what to expect in the next week and a half as tunnel pre-construction continues in SoMa, Union Square and North Beach:

• Tunnel Launch Box (4th Street between Bryant and Harrison streets): The contractor will continue constructing below-ground walls around the perimeter of this major excavation site. In addition, at the southern end of the block, crews are building a structure that will support the decking that will eventually cover the launch box, allowing traffic to travel over the excavation. To facilitate construction, this block of 4th Street is closed to all vehicle traffic. The on-ramp to westbound I-80 may be closed on weeknights from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. The sidewalk on the east side of the block remains open to pedestrians, and traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on construction impacts near this site, please check out this construction notice.

• Yerba Buena/Moscone Station Tunnel Pre-Construction (4th Street between Folsom and Howard streets):  The tunneling contractor will continue preparing to install below-ground walls, called headwalls, at the site of the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. The walls will cross 4th Street at two points on this block. At least two lanes of traffic on 4th Street will remain open at all times. The contractor plans to remain on the eastern side of the street until November 21, with two lanes on the west side of the street (right lanes for southbound traffic) open.

• Union Square Tunnel Pre-Construction (Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary streets and Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets): The contractor will continue preparing to construct below-ground walls at the future site of the Union Square/Market Street Station. Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary streets will remain closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles. Ellis Street between Powell and Stockton streets will remain closed to westbound traffic. Sidewalks in the area will remain open to pedestrians. For more information about the traffic modifications now in effect in the Union Square area, check out this blog post.

• North Beach Utility Relocation (Columbus Avenue between Union and Powell streets): The contractor will continue with utility relocation. On Monday, November 12, the left lane for northbound traffic will be closed during construction hours. Starting Tuesday, November 13, the work area will shift to the southbound side of the street. The right lane for southbound traffic will be closed during construction hours (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).  To facilitate construction, the southbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will be closed during construction hours. Signage will be in place directing Muni customers to the closest alternate bus stops. For more information on construction in North Beach, check out this blog post. ***Update November 13: In North Beach, the contractor will no longer begin work on the western side of Columbus Avenue today. Work will continue on the eastern side of the street and in the median. The left lane for northbound traffic and the northbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will remain closed during construction hours. Both southbound lanes of traffic and the southbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will remain open.***

We also post construction, auto detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

We appreciate your continued patience while construction is in progress.

The image above shows renderings of the four Central Subway stations. Clockwise from the top left: Chinatown Station, Union Square/Market Street Station, 4th and Brannan Station, Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. Additional renderings can be viewed online here.

This week a contract to construct the stations, track and operating systems for the Central Subway was advertised. The estimated $720 to $750 million contract includes construction of three subway stations, one surface-level station, train tracks and other components of the T Third Line extension through SoMa, Union Square and Chinatown.

The contract includes work that was previously divided into four separate construction contracts. Combining the contracts will allow the Central Subway Program to save time and money by eliminating constraints involved in coordinating and integrating four separate construction packages. It will also provide for a stronger and more consistent program to provide opportunities for small businesses and local residents seeking jobs.

“By providing much-needed job training for out-of-work San Franciscans and incorporating strong Small Business Enterprise participation goals, the Central Subway will benefit our community long before it is in service,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “As we build this crucial addition to our public transit system, this major contract will contribute greatly to our local economy.”

Combining the contracts has no impact on the Central Subway’s $1.6 billion budget. Bids for the contract are due January 23, 2013.

A meet-and-greet event for prospective prime contractors and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms will be held by the end of the year.

The contract includes several provisions to encourage local hiring and provide opportunities for small businesses and disadvantaged San Franciscans. It incorporates a robust Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goal of 20 percent. In addition, the winning contractor will be required to set aside 50 percent of the trucking and hauling work for certified SBE firms.

The contract also includes $1.5 million to hire socially and economically disadvantaged individuals for entry-level jobs, such as general clean-up and pedestrian safety monitoring. In addition, the winning contractor will establish a Construction Management Trainee Program and to provide socially and economically disadvantaged individuals with at least 40,000 hours of on-the-job training for construction management positions. The contractor will work with the SFMTA Contract Compliance Office and community-based organizations to identify applicants for these jobs from the neighborhoods along the Central Subway alignment and elsewhere in San Francisco.

Construction of the following elements of the Central Subway is included in the contract:

• The Chinatown Station, a subway station with an entrance at Stockton and Washington streets;
• The Union Square/Market Street Station, a subway station with entrances at Stockton and Geary streets and Stockton and Ellis streets;
• A concourse connecting the Union Square/Market Street Station to the existing Powell Street Muni/BART Station;
• The Yerba Buena/Moscone Station, a subway station with an entrance at 4th and Clementina streets;
• The 4th and Brannan Station, a surface-level station on 4th Street between Brannan and Bryant streets;
• Surface tracks on 4th Street between 4th and King streets and the subway tunnel portal on 4th Street between Bryant and Harrison streets;
• Trackbed, tracks, switches and train control systems within the Central Subway tunnel.

A pre-bid conference for the contract is scheduled for November 27. A meet-and-greet for prospective prime contractors and SBE firms will be held by the end of the year.

More information about the contract is available on our project website’s Current Contracts page and in this press release from the SFMTA. Bid documents are available online here.

This construction site on Stockton Street recently hosted an event to celebrate approval of major federal funding for the Central Subway.

Tunnel pre-construction remains underway at four construction sites along the Central Subway Project alignment, including the site shown above, which last week hosted a ceremony to celebrate approval of federal funding to extend the T Third Line through SoMa, Union Square and Chinatown.

In the next three weeks, work will continue at the four Central Subway construction sites, with traffic impacts planned to change at the following two:

• Tunnel Launch Box (4th Street between Bryant and Harrison streets): Beginning Monday, October 29, this block of 4th Street will be closed to traffic to facilitate construction of the Central Subway tunnel. The closure is anticipated to be in effect for approximately three months. In addition, the on-ramp to I-80 West may be closed on weeknights and weekends. During Giants games, two lanes of traffic on 4th Street will be open. For additional information, check out this construction notice.

• North Beach Utility Relocation (Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets): The contractor expects to begin work on the eastern side of Columbus Avenue during the next three weeks. We will provide additional details about traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts in advance of this change.

Next year tunneling will begin at this site in SoMa. To prepare for tunneling, this block of 4th Street will be closed to traffic for about three months, beginning October 29.

Here’s what to expect in the next three weeks as tunnel pre-construction continues in SoMa, Union Square and North Beach:

• Tunnel Launch Box (4th Street between Bryant and Harrison streets): The contractor will continue performing ground-stabilization work and constructing below-ground walls around the perimeter of this major excavation site. To facilitate construction, this block of 4th Street will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, October 29, and continuing for approximately three months. In addition, the on-ramp to westbound I-80 may be closed on weeknights from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. For more information on this closure, please check out this construction notice. The sidewalk on the east side of the block will remain open to pedestrians, and traffic and pedestrian controls will be in effect.

• Yerba Buena/Moscone Station Tunnel Pre-Construction (4th Street between Folsom and Howard streets):  The tunneling contractor will continue preparing to install below-ground walls, called headwalls, at the site of the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. The walls will cross 4th Street at two points on this block. At least two lanes of traffic on 4th Street will remain open at all times. During the next three weeks, the contractor expects to remain on the eastern side of the street, with two lanes on the west side of the street (right lanes for southbound traffic) open.

• Union Square Tunnel Pre-Construction (Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary streets and Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets): The contractor will continue preparing to construct below-ground walls at the future site of the Union Square/Market Street Station. Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary streets will remain closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles. Ellis Street between Powell and Stockton streets will remain closed to westbound traffic. Sidewalks in the area will remain open to pedestrians. For more information about the traffic modifications now in effect in the Union Square area, check out this blog post.

• North Beach Utility Relocation (Columbus Avenue between Union and Powell streets): The contractor will continue with utility relocation, constructing a sewer line and two sewer manholes. Currently the left lane for northbound traffic is closed, and work is underway in the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Union Street. To facilitate construction, the southbound bus stop on Columbus Avenue at Union Street will be closed during construction hours. In the next three weeks, the contractor plans to move to the eastern side of Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets, and new traffic and transit impacts will be in effect. We will provide additional details in advance of these changes. For more information on construction in North Beach, check out this blog post.

A complete, current three-week construction schedule, including detailed, site-specific transit and traffic impacts, is available online for the tunnel contract. We also post construction, auto detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

We appreciate your continued patience while construction is in progress.

School kids, community members and the Central Subway team show their support for the T Third Line extension.

San Francisco needs the Central Subway, said the San Francisco Examiner’s editorial board in a column published this weekend.

With major federal funding for the project now approved, this essential public transit investment will “tie together some of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in San Francisco with the densest community on the West Coast” and “help The City more effectively handle the growth that is projected over the next few decades.” These important advantages, the Examiner argues, make the project “beneficial to all of The City and people who live and work here.”

Federal, state and local officials gathered in Union Square yesterday to announce approval of federal funding for the Central Subway Project.

Yesterday Mayor Edwin M. Lee and key officials announced that an agreement dedicating $942.2 million in federal funds to the Central Subway Project has been approved. This major funding news finalizes the financing for extending the Muni Metro T Third Line through SoMa, Union Square and Chinatown.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Peter Rogoff, Board of Supervisors President David Chiu and other federal, state and local officials joined Mayor Lee to announce the approval of funding through the FTA’s New Starts program.

“When the Central Subway is complete, our city will see a stronger economy, a larger workforce, decreased pollution, less congestion, and faster, safer commutes,” said Leader Pelosi. “Working with partners and leaders from government, business, and the community, this project will serve as an economic engine for our city, improve and enhance our infrastructure, and connect the diverse communities of San Francisco.”

A major improvement over existing transit service along the congested 4th Street and Stockton Street corridors, the Central Subway will cut travel times by more than half compared to current Muni bus routes. In addition, construction of this major infrastructure project will create thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, and provide a boost to the local economy.

The announcement took place at a ceremony held at the future site of the Union Square/Market Street Station. More information about the Central Subway and this exciting funding news is available in this press release from Mayor Lee.

Here are some photos of the event:

Secretary LaHood announced approval of the federal funds, earning a round of applause from attendees.

Democratic Leader Pelosi, a longtime advocate for the Central Subway, spoke about her experiences trying to catch Muni buses along the congested Stockton Street corridor. Crowded buses crawl along Stockton Street at a rate as slow as three miles per hour.

Senator Feinstein, a strong supporter of the project, spoke about the major improvements to public transit the Central Subway will provide. With the addition of the Central Subway, the T Third Line is projected to become the most heavily used line in the Muni Metro system by 2030.

Congresswoman Speier spoke about the major transit investments planned for the Bay Area, including the Central Subway, California high-speed rail and the electrification of Caltrain. Investments like these will vastly improve the Bay Area’s transportation network.

FTA Administrator Rogoff signs a ceremonial document confirming the New Starts grant. New Starts has contributed $92.4 million to the Central Subway Project to date. The remaining amount will be distributed in annual allocations as the project progresses.

The Central Subway will connect to BART, Caltrain, Muni Metro, Muni bus routes, Muni cable car lines and, in the future, high-speed rail, significantly improving San Francisco’s and the Bay Area’s public transportation network. It is expected to open to the public in 2019.

The Central Subway is now on Instagram (username: CentralSubway). Follow us on your iPhone or Android phone as we chronicle construction of this major public infrastructure investment.

Our debut post: a photo of a backhoe at work at the site where tunneling will begin next year.

Follow us to see construction in progress. More photos coming soon.