Project Introduction
In 2023, the Central Subway (Third Street Light Rail Phase 2) opened for revenue service.
Although Chinatown - Rose Pak Station is the northern terminal of the Central Subway, unfinished subway tunnels currently exist north of the station terminating in North Beach at Columbus Avenue and Union Street.
During construction of the Central Subway, these additional tunnels were established so that the tunnel boring machines could be removed from the ground in an area where off-street space was available. Passenger service does not operate in the tunnels north of Chinatown Station, but the tunnels are designed to enable further extension in the future. As a result, the SFMTA is studying the potential to add a station in the existing tunnels in North Beach, and possibly extend the subway to the north and/or west.
Prior Work
T Third (Phase 3) Concept Study
The T Third (Phase 3) Concept Study, published in January 2015, was a joint effort between the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA), the SFMTA, and the San Francisco Planning Department, with SFMTA as the lead agency. The goal was to determine whether the idea of a subway extension is feasible.
The Concept Study identified preliminary technical strengths and tradeoffs of sample subway extension routes and configurations (e.g. subway vs. surface vs. combination) along Powell Street, Beach Street, and Columbus Avenue with input from stakeholders, governing bodies, and the public. The study evaluated the sample alternatives based on the following criteria:
- Passenger Experience
- Operational Efficiency
- System Performance
- Local Operations Considerations
- Infrastructure Resiliency
- Construction Effects
- Capital Construction Cost & Risk
Ultimately, the study showed that a subway extension would be technically feasible but did not identify a preference.
2018 Alternatives Study
Following the Concept Study, an Alternatives Study was launched in 2018. This study was ultimately paused due to the pandemic. The study’s objectives included:
- Combining community input through stakeholder interviews, workshops and other interactive activities with concept-level engineering to identify viable project alternatives (i.e. potential routes and station locations).
- Evaluating and screening the alternatives based on community feedback and engineering feasibility, resulting in two to three of the most promising alternatives.
- Depending on community support for the project and the availability of funding, these alternatives would be carried forward for environmental review in a future phase of the project.
The study had a four-step process. Step 1 was partially completed. Due to the Study's disruption, these steps will be considered as part of the relaunch.
Step 1
Survey community organizations to determine transportation
goals, the desirability of a subway along with desired route and station locations (complete – results here).
- The SFMTA will use this input to develop a preliminary set of alternatives that meet the identified goals.
Step 2
Present the preliminary set of alternatives at community meetings, to confirm that the alternatives address the goals identified in Step 1 (TBD).
- The SFMTA will take the refined alternatives and perform concept-level analysis (developing preliminary plan drawings, cost estimates, and cost/benefit analyses), and prepare a draft Alternatives Study report summarizing the results.
Step 3
Share the draft Alternatives Study report results at community meetings to seek input on preferred alternatives and gather feedback (TBD).
- The SFMTA will document the feedback and prepare a final version of the Alternatives Study report.
The preferred alternatives will undergo environmental review during a future phase of the project, contingent upon community support for the project and funding availability.
Step 4
- Circulate the final version of the study (TBD).