SFCTA staff are recommending a $150K preliminary study of the proposed Fisherman’s Wharf extension of the Central Subway, advocated by Rescue Muni and many other community leaders in the SF NEXTSTOP coalition. This is a great first step towards realizing the vision of a Central Subway that serves North Beach and the Wharf; it will give the public a much clearer idea of the cost and time required to build it.
This week the MTA Board approved a revised route for the proposed Central Subway, running from Fourth and King to Chinatown, now via Fourth Street with the tunnel portal under the I-80 freeway. Previous plans had included a bizarre zigzag up Third and back to Fourth, and then a straight route up Fourth with the tunnel portal at Brannan (read down to 8 June 2005).
The Examiner editorializes in favor of the project, while the Chronicle’s CW Nevius slams it. Meanwhile Rescue Muni has long taken the position that if the project is built, it needs to have the most direct route, and also it must be built to allow easy expansion to North Beach. (Our board member Howard Strassner has also proposed a non-subway alternative.)
Update: Nevius rides the 30 Stockton and has some more thoughts on the proposal.
Eric of Transbay Blog has published a detailed series of articles on the Central Subway this week, including discussions of proposed alignments, photos of proposed stop locations, and the advantages and disadvantages of this very expensive project. This is an excellent introduction and analysis of the project for fans, foes, and those new to the project alike.
Some news this week:
The Central Subway project (proposed from SOMA to Chinatown) has run into various delays and cost overruns but is still very much in San Francisco’s plans. Rescue Muni board member Howard Strassner has an alternative that would be much less expensive – rider comments please! Note that Rescue Muni’s policy now is to recommend extension of the central subway to North Beach, rather than stopping it at Clay Street as currently planned.
Update: The Examiner discussed this proposal this week.
(Details after the jump.)