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Access on Historic Streetcars

Muni operates three types of Historic Streetcars: President's Conference Cars (PCCs), Milan Cars, and Antique Streetcars.  Below you will find information about their accessible features.

Accessibility Features

PCC on the Embarcadero

President's Conference Cars (PCC)

Currently we operate 27 PCCs on the F Line, including three double-ended “Torpedoes” originally purchased by Muni in 1948, 13 cars purchased from Philadelphia in 1994 and 11 cars purchased from Newark, New Jersey. The cars are painted in tribute liveries representing most of the cities that once operated PCCs, including San Diego, Boston, Philadelphia and many others.  More information on the historic fleet is available at the Market Street Railway website.

All of the PCCs have been refurbished and modified to provide two wheelchair stationing areas with stop request buttons.


Milan Streetcar at Oracle Park

Milan Cars

Streetcars from Milan, Italy are also part of Muni’s historic fleet. The cars are called “Peter Witt” cars because their design is based on one that Cleveland Transit Commissioner Peter Witt created for faster passenger boardings. Nine of these cars are currently in service.  More information on the historic fleet is available at the Market Street Railway website.

Milan cars do not have stop request buttons or stationing areas, but there is plenty of space at the rear of the vehicle to position a wheelchair.


Antique Streetcars

The fleet also includes 10 antique streetcars from around the world that run primarily on The Embarcadero between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building. More information on the historic fleet is available at the Market Street Railway website.

Antique street cars do not have stop request buttons or stationing areas, but there is plenty of space at the rear of the vehicle to position a wheelchair.


Passenger with his leashed dog

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed on all of our historic Streetcars.  Service animals must be leashed and under the control of their owner at all times.

More Information:


Passenger in a priority seating area on a PCC

Priority Seating

Priority seating for seniors and customers with disabilities is located immediately behind the train Operator’s compartment at the front of the car. The priority seating includes the first rows of aisle-facing seats, which flip up to accommodate a wheelchair, and the first rows of forward-facing seats.

Please Note:

On crowded streetcars, the priority seats may already be occupied by seniors and people with disabilities or by other customers. Upon request, operators can ask passengers to give up their seats, but cannot force them to do so.


Boarding and Exiting

Passenger uses a Streetcar Ramp on Market Street

Overview

All stops along The Embarcadero, and on Market Street between Van Ness Avenue and Castro Street, include an accessible wayside boarding platform. Between Van Ness Avenue and Steuart Street, accessible stops are located at key locations along lower Market Street. Traveling inbound on Market Street, there are wayside platforms at 7th, 3rd and Main streets and Don Chee Way. Outbound on Market Street, wayside platforms are at Don Chee Way, Drumm, Kearny and Hyde streets and Van Ness Avenue.

Four accessible F Line stops have mechanical lifts to raise the passenger to the level of the car floor. The lifts are located at inbound stops at Market and Church streets, Market and 5th streets and Market and 1st streets, and at the outbound stop adjacent to Hallidie Plaza.

More Information:

F Market & Wharves Line

F Market & Wharves Line Market Street Map


Passenger exits a streetcar onto the ramp

Boarding and Exiting at Wayside Platforms

Customers should use the ramp to the wayside platform to wait for a streetcar. When the streetcar arrives, the Operator will deploy a portable bridge plate between the car and the platform to allow you to cross into the car. Immediately upon boarding, let the Operator know your destination stop and whether you need help with the securements. Proceed to one of the securement areas.


Passenger exits a Streetcar lift on Market Street

Boarding and Exiting at Wayside Lifts

Wayside lifts are separated from the boarding island by a gate which remains in the lowered position when not in use. To use a lift, go through the gate and wait for a streetcar on the lift platform.  Locate the control button. When the street car arrives, push and hold the up button to raise the lift. You must press the button continuously or the lift will stop moving. Customers who are unable to press and hold the button may ask the streetcar Operator to raise and lower the lift from inside the car.

The lift will not operate until the train stops next to the platform.  Once the lift is raised, the Operator will open the vehicle door and then open the gate between the lift and the streetcar. The gate will not open unless the lift is completely raised.  The Operator will then place a bridge plate to allow you to cross from the lift into the streetcar.

When exiting the streetcar at a wayside lift, the Operator will raise the lift from inside the vehicle, open the vehicle door and the lift gate then deploy the bridge. Once on the lift platform, press the down button continuously until the platform has lowered completely. Be sure the lift is completely lowered before opening the gate.  Please let the streetcar Operator know if you cannot press the button to lower the lift.  Lifts can accommodate up to 600 pounds.