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The Muni Metro is a streetcar-like network which runs underground in the city centre with 8 underground stations. Along Market Street, the tunnel is shared by the Muni Metro (upper level) and BART (lower level). The western section of the tunnel between a point west of Castro station and West Portal, the so-called Twin Peaks Tunnel (3.5 km), was opened on 3 Feb 1918 with one underground station at Forest Hill.

The central tunnel is used by all Muni Metro lines (lines K and T are operated jointly), with lines J and N leaving through a portal west of Van Ness station. At the eastern end, lines J, M and L reverse in the underground sidings beyond Embarcadero station, while lines N and T surface before reaching the Folsom stop.

While the western branches have a very basic streetcar alignment, with stops identified by a simple yellow paint on some nearby pole, the new branch from Embarcadero to Sunnydale runs on its own right-of-way with high-level platforms and can thus be classified as a proper light rail line. Along the tunnel stretch, Muni Metro vehicles are operated in ATO mode. Along the western branches, only two stops have full high-level platforms; at several others there are ramps which allow disabled passengers to board at the front door.

Feb 1980: Market Street Subway (Van Ness - Embarcadero)
June 1980: Market Street Subway (Van Ness - West Portal)
1998: Embarcadero - Caltrain Station
07 April 2007: 4th & King (Caltrain Station) - Sunnydale (T line, 8.2 km)

 Projects

The Muni Metro T line, which opened in April 2007, will be extended underground north from King Street along Fourth Street, entering a new Central Subway near Bryant Street. It will then cross beneath Market Street and continue under Stockton Street. Underground stations will be located at Moscone Center, Union Square/Market Street (interchange with BART and Muni Metro at Powell Street station) and Clay Street in Chinatown.

Station by Station Gallery

-OPERATION

05:00 - 01:00 weekdays (every 9 minutes); 06:00 - 01:00 Saturdays (every 15 min); 08:00 - 01:00 Sundays (every 15-20 min)

-FARES

Single Fare:
$1.50 on Muni Metro

Tourist Passports (valid on Muni Metro, cablecars & buses)
- 1-Day - $11.00
- 3-Days - $18.00
- 7-Days - $24.00
Weekly Pass for all Muni Lines: $15.00 (+$1.00 for each cable car ride)

Station by Station Gallery

Muni Metro at New York Subway Resources incl. many photos

Bay Area Rail Transit by Loren Petrich

Jon Bell's San Francisco Page incl. photos

Muni Metro Station by Station Gallery

More BART & MUNI Photos

San Francisco Cityscape (incl. many bay area rail maps)