F-line streetcars will operate almost twice as long every day, from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., starting Saturday, June 26.
This represents a huge expansion of the eight-hour-a-day service schedule implemented when the F-line returned to service on May 15, following a 13-month pandemic-caused absence.
The vintage streetcars have been very popular since their return, with service that started around midday and ended before sunset. The expanded hours will allow many more San Franciscans and visitors to enjoy the service between the Castro District and Fisherman’s Wharf via Market Street and The Embarcadero as they work, shop, dine, and play in our newly-reopened city.
“We salute SFMTA leadership for moving quickly to meet the clear demand for longer F-line service hours,” said Rick Laubscher, president of the nonprofit Market Street Railway, an advocacy and support group for the historic streetcars and cable cars. “They listened to merchants along the line, from Castro to the Wharf, saw the popularity of the streetcars as soon as they returned, and took decisive action, in time to serve the increasing numbers of visitors coming to town and San Franciscans resuming their daily routines. Well done.”
Muni chief Julie Kirschbaum made the announcement to a Muni youth advisory group on June 21.
This good news follows Mayor London Breed’s announcement that cable car service will resume in August with free rides on the Powell-Hyde line for those same service hours, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. The free service amounts to a “soft launch” of the cable cars following what will be a 16-month shutdown for them. Fares will be collected starting in September, and the other two lines, Powell-Mason and California Street, will resume service at a later date as operators and other resources become available.
These service expansions leave both the F-line and cable cars several hours short of their pre-pandemic daily operating hours. The hours and levels of cable car service were actually written into the City Charter by voters 50 years ago following persistent attempts to reduce service, but the emergency declaration under which city government is still operating allows this flexibility. F-line service hours and levels don’t have Charter protection and have always been set by rider demand, resource levels, and other operating considerations, the same as other Muni bus and light rail routes.
Now that is a great photo!
Kudos to Val!
Indeed!
In response to the rash of operator and rider attacks late at light a year and a half ago, I think the ending of streetcar service at 10pm is wise. It lets the late Fishermans’ Wharf riders have streetcars to ride back on but deprives the freeloaders and riff-raff a comfortable, convenient place to hang out. If any more service is added I would suggest early morning service and increased mid-day service over late night. Let the buses take care of the nights.
We also would have safer streetcars and busses if they would enforce fare collections. It seems less than half of F-line riders pay. Having people enter through the rear door invites this abuse, though drivers don’t enforce fare collection even for people entering through the front doors.
I fully agree but it appears that isn’t going to happen. Where I live the State’s Attorney has said she isn’t even going to enforce half the laws currently on the books. San Francisco apparently isn’t much better.
This is good news indeed. I’m looking forward to the next Muni Heritage Days weekend.
This is good news for riders, but I’ll miss being able to ride and photograph PCCs on the J-Line during the morning pull-in. Getting out there before 7:00 a.m. is too early for me!