Update

Muni Central Subway

The San Francisco Muni Central Subway project adds four new stations and better access for communities along the route.

Credit
San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency

The 2023 opening of the Muni Central Subway project extended the T-Third light-rail line: Four new stations were added as a 1.7-mile extension from the 4th and King/Caltrain station to Chinatown.

MTC made the $1.57 billion Central Subway project a top regional priority in the competition for funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program.

And MTC played a central role in getting this new project underway by:

  • Identifying it as an original Regional Transit Expansion Policy priority project
  • Including it in the voter-approved Regional Measure 2 expenditure plan
  • Delivering $30 million in toll dollars, plus ongoing operations support now that the extension has opened

Value to the Community

The Central Subway provides a direct rapid transit link between downtown San Francisco and the Sunnydale, Visitacion Valley and Bayview neighborhoods.

These neighborhoods now enjoy better access to jobs, stores, schools, and sporting and cultural venues in downtown San Francisco, Chinatown, South of Market and Mission Bay.

Additionally, the project:

  • Improves regional connections to BART, Caltrain and future high-speed rail
  • Increases transit capacity and relieves overcrowding
  • Improves travel times
  • Relieves congestion along the Stockton Street corridor
  • Reduces air and noise pollution
  • Creates new economic activity along the 4th Street corridor south of Market Street
Partnership

The Central Subway project received a total of $942 million through the Federal Transportation Administration’s New Starts program. Other funding partners include:

  • MTC
  • State of California
  • San Francisco County Transportation Authority
  • City and County of San Francisco