San Francisco F Line extension recommended
Written by Douglas John BowenSan Francisco's historic and popular F Line streetcar service may reach a short but critical 0.85 miles west of its current terminus at Fisherman's Wharf, if a recommendation spearheaded by the National Park Service comes to fruition.
The Park Service has endorsed a plan to serve Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park by streetcar. The “North Loop” alignment is the locally preferred alignment.
Extended F-Line service would include single-track operation through the existing 1,550-foot Fort Mason Tunnel, built in 1914, and terminate west of the tunnel in a loop (and storage track) at Fort Mason Center.
“The National Park Service (NPS) is the lead agency and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the Federal Transit Administration are the cooperating agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).,” the NPS said in a 20-page Record of Decision.
The Park Service notes that numerous studies from numerous agencies, including the Presidio Trust, “showed that these urban national park destinations could benefit from improved regional and local transit connectivity. “
Though the Park Service is considered the lead agency, and is expected to deal with numerous matters within federal lands affected, a footnote in the Record of Decision states, “SFMTA will retain full decision authority on system design.”
