⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ MUNI Metro: Central Subway Opening Day Observations

After over 12 years of construction, delays and (im)patient waiting, SFMTA's Central Subway project is finally open to the public.

Well, sorta. The Central Subway will be open on weekends only until January 7, 2023, at which point normal service will commence. Service will also only run between Chinatown and 4th and Brannan stations, not connecting to the rest of the T line until January.

This video features footage from all four stations that are part of the Central Subway: Chinatown Rose Pak, Union Square/Market Street, Yerba Buena/Moscone, and 4th and Brannan. The first three are underground stations, while 4th and Brannon is street level.

The 1.7-mile Central Subway was planned over three decades and has been under construction since 2010. Forged from the advocacy of Rose Pak--the eponym for Chinatown Rose Pak station--the Central Subway provides a much sought-after rail connection to historically marginalized and disconnected Chinatown.

The project, however, has been much maligned for its cost overruns, delays and lack of long-term sustainable infrastructure. The platforms are only long enough to accommodate two-car trains, which will strain the system's capacity for decades to come.

Still, the Central Subway is an important step in expanding transit coverage to more communities in the city. The line could be extended further north to North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf and the Marina District, but we're not holding our breath for that anytime soon.

In the meantime, passengers will finally be able to ride the MUNI Metro from Chinatown to Union Square and Downtown in just a few minutes, a huge improvement over travel times on foot, by bus or by car.

To watch our full journey on the Central Subway, click here:    • ⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ MUNI Metro: Central Subway Full Journ...