Bus shuttles substitute all Cable Car lines in September 2019
Muni will run bus shuttles for the Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California cable car lines starting Friday, September 13 for about 10 days. As a part of the Cable Car Gearbox Rehab Project, the Hyde gearbox will be refurbished to keep the world-famous cable cars operating.
SF Public Works will also be making sidewalk improvements and trimming trees on the eastern sidewalk of Hyde between Beach and North Point.
Bus service will begin Friday, September 13 at 5:30 a.m., continuing during regular service hours until the end of service of Sunday, September 22. Regular cable car service is expected to resume Monday, September 23, after the work is complete. Bus shuttles will serve all cable car stops following the Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California lines, picking up passengers at curbside cable car stops.
Bus shuttles will not stop at cable car terminals, but bus stops will be conveniently located nearby:
- California and Drumm Terminal - Drumm and California streets in front of Hyatt Hotel
- California and Van Ness Terminal - California Street and Van Ness Avenue next to the island stop
- Powell and Market Turntable - Southwest of Ellis and Powell streets
- Taylor and Bay Terminal - Southwest of Taylor and Francisco streets in front of the restaurant
- Hyde and Beach Terminal - Southwest of Hyde and Beach streets
Regular bus fare will apply: $3 for cash fare or $2.50 if paid by MuniMobile or Clipper Card.
To accommodate the bus shuttles, temporary parking removal will be in effect at the cable car terminals. To maximize the shutdown opportunity, maintenance work may also take place along the cable car lines at various locations during this time.
For those looking for an opportunity to take a ride on vintage vehicles during the bus substitution of the cable car lines, San Francisco’s unique historic streetcar line, the F Market & Wharves, will be in operation.
The cable propelling the Hyde Line is the master cable for all cable cars to go in and out of the Cable Car Barn. Cable cars are unable to enter into nor return from service when the Hyde cable is not functioning.
Since the project began in fall of 2017, the Cable Car Gearbox Rehab Project has successfully overhauled and refurbished the five gearboxes that propel the California and Mason cable cars, as well as a spare gearbox.