Market Street railway’S VISION FOR THE E-line In the last 20 years, San Francisco’s waterfront has been transformed from a derelict anachronism into one of the most vibrant spots in the world. Today, our waterfront features many individual pearls: maritime, cultural, culinary, historical, and recreational. In coming years, more pearls will be added: world-class museums, conference facilities, parks, business complexes, arts venues, a new cruise ship terminal, perhaps even a sports arena. Yet there is no single transit line that connects all these world-class destinations. The good news is that Muni has already made almost all the investment needed to string those pearls together with a type of transit service that has already proven its popularity beyond all expectations. This is Market Street Railway’s vision for that string of pearls: an extended, enhanced E-Embarcadero vintage streetcar line, stretching five So much is already in place for an extended E-line: track, streetcars, and a half miles from Fort storage and maintenance facilities, even the destination signs! Mason all the way to Pier 70. Muni has already committed to the So, all the track, wiring, and stations LONGTIME first phase of an E-Embarcadero line, for this first phase of the E-line are which will share the current F-line tracks already in place. Muni has operated DREAM from the existing Fisherman’s Wharf successful E-line demonstration service The idea of serving the waterfront terminal at Beach & Jones Streets to the several times, most recently for America’s with vintage streetcars dates back 40 Ferry Building. Where the F-line turns Cup World Series weekends in August years. Muni soon adopted that idea in west to head up Market Street, the E-line and October 2012. The E-line vintage its 1979 long-range plan, dubbing it the will continue south on the Embarcadero, streetcars were packed throughout the ‘E-Embarcadero’ line, to run from Fort following already-built tracks three weekend service and mixed easily with Mason to the Caltrain Depot. blocks to Folsom Street and then joining both modern N- and T-line trains and Built out to the ultimate vision the N- and T-line tracks where they leave the vintage F-line streetcars in their described here, the E-line would provide: the subway. respective segments of the route. unmatched connectivity to regional transit services; access to two National Park The ‘rider magnet’ units; daily transit service to residents of LONGER several neighborhoods, both emerging and provided by the established; and a wide variety of shopping, MAKES IT dining, business, cultural, and recreational historic streetcars destinations. Historic streetcars, as has already driven STRONGER currently used on the wildly popular Muni’s current plan is to operate the F-line, would create a visible colorful up the value of both E-line on a demonstration basis again connection among these destinations—a public and private in the summer of 2013 for the America’s connection already proven to attract Cup races, with possible permanent people out of their automobiles and onto property along the operation as soon as the summer of 2014, transit, something buses simply do not do. F-line route. when Muni’s next operating budget cycle The ‘rider magnet’ provided by the begins. Market Street Railway supports historic streetcars has already driven this plan. up the value of both public and private From Folsom, the E-line will share We also believe that extensions property along the F-line route. For those N- and T-line tracks past AT&T at both ends of the line would greatly example, F-line service was a key Park to the Caltrain Peninsula commuter enhance the value of the E-line to factor in supporting the move of the depot at Fourth & King Streets. Separate businesses, neighborhoods, public Exploratorium from its longtime home low-level boarding platforms and institutions, and our waterfront’s to new quarters at Pier 15, where it is accessability ramps have already been economic activity, all at modest cost. expected to draw up to 1.5 million visitors built for the E-line cars at the four An extended E-line would offer direct in its first year. stations south of the Ferry Building. connections to more regional transit E-LINE CONNECTION—tracks for the e-line are already in TAKE ME OUT—in its first phase, the e-line will serve place to connect from the t- and N-line tracks (here at Folsom AT&t Park and Caltrain, as it did during this august 2012 Street and the embarcadero) to the F-line tracks just north of demonstration service. a southerly extension along the Mission Street. this is New Orleans “Desire” streetcar No. 952 t-line tracks on third Street would serve Mission Bay, the carrying passengers during e-line demonstration service. new UCSF campus and hospitals, Pier 70, and Dogpatch. operations than any other single Bay Area Fisherman’s Wharf has contributed to transit line: BART, Caltrain, SamTrans, the atrophy of some famous properties An extended E-line Golden Gate Transit, Amtrak buses, and beyond the terminal, such as Ghirardelli ferries to the East Bay and Marin. It would Square and The Cannery. would offer direct also connect to Muni Metro, the Central connections to more Subway, Van Ness BRT (bus rapid transit) and trunk Muni crosstown lines such as WEST TO regional transit the 14-Mission and 28-19th Avenue, both operations than any ultimately reaching Daly City. FORT MASON The E-line would serve as a Extending the E-line westward from other single Bay Area waterfront circulator for regional the current Fisherman’s Wharf terminal and local passengers using all these addresses both these circumstances. transit line… services, completing their trip on an First, it increases streetcar service along attractive vehicle that also spares them the northern Embarcadero, which today Mason Center. This is a National Historic the hassle and expense of parking in the is the most heavily ridden portion of District that was once the Army’s port of increasingly congested waterfront. This the F-line. This is essential to meet the embarkation for the Pacific and is now a offers a real opportunity to divert more growing demand in this corridor, which vibrant arts and cultural center attracting regional shopping and recreational trips will accelerate with the opening of the more than 1.6 million visitors a year, from automobiles to transit, reducing Exploratorium and the new Cruise Ship despite very poor transit connections congestion and air pollution. terminal at Pier 27. and the lack of a visual connection to the Beyond its regional connectivity, the Second, it brings the attractive vintage Wharf (it is hidden by high bluffs). value of efficient, attractive streetcar streetcars along Beach Street from Jones While this end of the E-line would service along the waterfront is self- westward to serve the remainder of the terminate inside the gates of Fort Mason evident. The crowds of riders going to Wharf, plus two National Park units: San Center, residents of the northeastern and from the Ferry Building Farmer’s Francisco Maritime National Historical Marina District could easily reach it by Markets, the Wharf, and other attractions Park, with its fabulous historic ship foot to enjoy direct service to the Ferry make that clear every day. It is obvious to collection at the Hyde Street Pier, plus Building and beyond, along almost totally F-line operators and observers that many the Maritime Museum at Aquatic Park; reserved right-of-way. Streetcar riders of these folks don’t otherwise ride transit. and Fort Mason, part of the Golden Gate coming to Fort Mason will find Marina We’ve also learned that just as the National Recreation Area. Green and the shops and restaurants of presence of vintage streetcars is a plus Specifically, the streetcar extension Chestnut Street just a short stroll away. for businesses and attractions, their would use the edge of Aquatic Park and Crissy Field and the Presidio Main Post absence can be a minus. We at Market a historic 1914 railroad tunnel, which would be a pleasant recreational walk. Street Railway believe that the current runs westward for three blocks from the Muni’s 28-line takes people directly from F-line terminal just halfway through foot of Van Ness Avenue, to reach Fort Fort Mason to the Golden Gate Bridge HISTORIC TUNNEL—the e-line would reach Fort Mason Center NEW OUTLOOK—Fort Mason Center and the National Park Service have developed through this historic 1914 railroad tunnel that runs three blocks exciting new ideas for the National Historic landmark District that served as the west from the foot of Van Ness avenue. while only wide enough embarkation point for soldiers headed to the Pacific. Possibilities include an ‘arts for a single track, streetcars could pass through in little more hotel’ or additional exhibition space on Pier 1 with its stunning views (pictured), than a minute, providing enough capacity to be used, with markets, shoreline access, and recreational opportunities. whichever direction is safety features, in both directions. Photo composite. chosen, visitation is likely to grow, served by e-line streetcars. MARKET STREET RAILWAy’s Vision for the E-line 4 3 2 7 6 F-line terminal NEW TRACK at Beach & Jones MARINA 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE PRESIdIO MARINA District FORT Mason CENTER Aquatic PARK FISHERMAN’S WHARF Alcatraz FERRy While the E-line would The northeast Marina The E-line’s terminal would The E-line would run on The E-line will provide badly Additional service provided terminate at Fort Mason, District and Marina Green directly serve the already Beach Street, serving Aquatic needed additional streetcar by the E-line will better serve existing shuttle buses and will be just a short walk busy Fort Mason Center, Park, the Maritime Museum, service to Restaurant Row, the more than one million Muni routes would offer from the E-line’s Fort Mason slated for restoration of historic ships, and Ghirardelli the historic fishing fleet, Pier annual visitors to Alcatraz easy connections to Presidio terminal, serving both additional historic pier Square, revitalizing the 39, and other current Wharf who use the current Pier 33 destinations.