We’ve had some questions about the buses serving the F-line during evenings this week. As we learned from MSR member (and Muni employee) Matt Lee via our Facebook group, “DPW [the Department of Public Works] is doing some repair work to the center median between Castro and Guerrero due to the [palm] tree roots damaging the concrete retaining walls and our track crew is checking to make sure there is no damage to the tracks.”
Canary Island palms were chosen to beautify the medians installed along with the F-line tracks on upper Market almost 20 years ago because they were already a tradition on nearby Dolores Street and because they are one of the few mature trees that can be transplanted and survive in urban environments. Only trouble is the root system is shallow and can break up surrounding pavement. When there are streetcar tracks in that pavement, it pays to keep a close eye on things, as Muni is doing here.
By the way, Matt also reports that the F-line with be “bustituted” all day Sunday in anticipation of post-Super Bowl activity.
Seeing what happened to a muni bus after the Giants won the World Series, I would hope all historic vehicles are kept far out of harm’s way.
Seeing what happened to a muni bus after the Giants won the World Series, I would hope all historic vehicles are kept far out of harm’s way.
diesel busses should not be used on the F line, unless its a true emergency. Electric busses using the 8 line termnal at castro and 18th, as far east as 4th street, streetcars running from 11th st to the wharf.
Trolley buses can no longer make the turn from Castro onto Market because of the construction of the plaza at the F-line terminal, so that option is not viable. Besides, F-line operators are all qualified to drive substitute motor coaches, but most are not qualified to drive trolley coaches. Thus, extra drivers would have to be paid. Plus, the streetcars would be stranded downtown, unable to pull in until the work is done for the evening. Finally, many F-line riders would be forced to transfer from one mode to the other to complete their ride — on a winter evening.