Today in our History in Motion series, we zoom in on one intersection – Jackson and Fillmore – and study how Muni routes have changed there over time.
We will look back at three photos taken at Fillmore and Jackson streets in 1948, 1982 and 2025. These shots document three distinct periods in our city’s history.
July 29, 1948: A moment of major change
This photo was taken at a difficult time for public transit. After World War II, transit systems nationwide were worn from years of deferred maintenance. Ridership was in decline as people moved out of cities and gravitated to driving instead of riding transit.
In this photo, we see a bus on the 24 Divisadero Route at right, a cable car on the Washington-Jackson Line center and a 22-Fillmore streetcar at left. They were posed to show off Muni’s new “Green and Cream Wings” paint scheme. This livery debuted in 1946 as a way to freshen up and unify the look of Muni across the system. Within six years after this photo was taken, all three of these lines saw major changes.
Just days later on August 1, streetcars on the 22 Fillmore were replaced with buses. In January 1949, the 24 Divisadero bus route was shortened to end at Jackson and Webster streets. And in 1956, the Washington Jackson cable car line was closed after 68 years of operation. Cable Car 526 pictured here still operates today on the Powell Street lines.
February 16, 1982: Planning for 1983 service changes
34 years later, Muni service was undergoing yet another major transformation. Throughout the 1980s, Muni planners rearranged bus and train routes across the city. The changes were undertaken as part of Muni’s first 5-year plan. They provided more neighborhood connections and improved trips into downtown.
In August 1983, the 24 Divisadero was converted to an electric trolley bus. At the same time, 13 other routes saw major changes. This photo was taken to study terminal locations on Jackson Street for the 24.
June 27, 2025: Top five busiest routes
Our last photo shows the 22 Fillmore on its way to Mission Bay. Post-pandemic, Muni continues to make a strong comeback with ridership recovery. In May 2025, weekend ridership reached 97% of 2019 levels! Overall ridership reached 79% of pre-pandemic levels. And the 22 is one of the lead characters in our comeback story. While it’s always been a critical crosstown artery, it currently is one of Muni’s top five busiest routes.
Each of these photos shows a different point in time with a different story. They all document the longstanding presence of public transit in our neighborhoods. Since 1888, transit vehicles have rumbled across this intersection.
You can check out more photos like these in the SFMTA Photo Archive online.
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