View source for E Embarcadero

{{short description|San Francisco heritage streetcar line}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 
| name                            = E Embarcadero
| color                           = {{rcr|MUNI|E}}
| image                           = Muni 1010 at Brannan station, August 2017.jpg
| logo                            = E Embarcadero logo.svg
| logo_width                      = 50px
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = Streetcar 1010 at Brannan station in 2017
| status                          = Suspended<ref name="suspended"/>
| type                            = [[Heritage streetcar]]
| system                          = [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]]
| locale                          = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
| start                           = {{munis|Jones and Beach}}
| end                             = {{munis|4th and King}}
| stations                        = 18
| daily_ridership                 = 
| open                            = {{Unbulleted list
   | January 10, 1998 (shuttle service)
   | August 31, 2008 (trial service)<ref name=Streetcar />
   | August 1, 2015 (weekend service)
   | April 23, 2016 (full service)
   }}
| close                           = March 17, 2020<ref name="suspended"/>
| owner                           = [[San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency]] (SFMTA)
| operator                        = [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]]
| character                       = Mostly in dedicated median; some shared lanes
| stock                           = [[San Francisco Municipal Railway fleet#Historic streetcar fleet|Double-ended historic Muni streetcars]]
| linelength                      = {{Convert|3.3|mi|km}}
| gauge                           = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = {{600 V DC|conductor=overhead}}
| map                             = {{E Embarcadero}}
}}

The '''E Embarcadero''' is a historic streetcar line that is the [[San Francisco Municipal Railway]]'s second [[heritage railway|heritage streetcar]] line in [[San Francisco, California]]. Trial service first ran during the Sunday Streets events on [[Embarcadero (San Francisco)|The Embarcadero]] in 2008.<ref name="Streetcar">{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2008 |title=E-Embarcadero Line Service for Sunday Streets |url=http://www.streetcar.org/e-embarcadero_line_service_for_sunday_streets/ |access-date=November 7, 2014 |website=streetcar.org |publisher=[[Market Street Railway (nonprofit)|Market Street Railway]]}}</ref> The line initially ran on weekends only,<ref name="RWA">{{Cite journal |last=Bowen, Douglas John |date=March 31, 2014 |title=MUNI eyes new E train route |url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/muni-eyes-new-e-train-route.html |journal=[[Railway Age]] |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. |access-date=July 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name="MSR">{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2014 |title=E-Line Finally Budgeted...For 2016! |url=http://www.streetcar.org/e-line_finally_budgetedfor_2016/ |access-date=November 7, 2014 |website=streetcar.org |publisher=[[Market Street Railway (nonprofit)|Market Street Railway]]}}</ref> but expanded to weeklong service in late April 2016.<ref name="April23">{{Cite web |last=Hyden |first=Rachel |date=April 13, 2016 |title=Better, more frequent service coming April 23! |url=https://www.sfmta.com/news/project-updates/better-more-frequent-service-coming-april-23 |access-date=April 22, 2016 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)}}</ref>

In March 2020, the line was suspended indefinitely due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and as of 2024, the line is still not operating.<ref name="suspended"/><ref name="curbed"/>

==Route==
The initial routing of the line is nearly identical to the defunct [[List of defunct San Francisco Municipal Railway lines|32 Embarcadero]] bus line, which was discontinued after the [[F Market & Wharves]] line began operating along the Embarcadero in 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Edward |date=1999-09-08 |title=Muni Gets OK to Extend Streetcar Line to Wharf / Expanded service expected to be popular |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Muni-Gets-OK-to-Extend-Streetcar-Line-to-Wharf-3273915.php |access-date=2018-06-15}}</ref>
It runs the length of the [[The Embarcadero (San Francisco)|Embarcadero]] and San Francisco's segment of the [[San Francisco Bay Trail|Bay Trail]], along pre-existing track used by the [[F Market & Wharves]] historic streetcar as well as the [[N Judah]] and [[T Third Street]] [[Muni Metro]] lines and previously unused track bypassing [[Market Street subway]]'s Embarcadero portal. Service runs from Jones Street and Jefferson Street in [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California|Fisherman's Wharf]] to near the N Judah's platform at [[Caltrain]]'s King Street and 4th Street Station in the [[Mission Bay, San Francisco, California|Mission Bay]] neighborhood – the last trains of the day run to near the adjacent T Third platform at 4th and Berry. Since there is no loop at the Caltrain station, only [[Bi-directional vehicle|double-ended]] streetcars are able to operate on the line until a [[balloon loop|loop track]] is built.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Market Street Railway |date=2015-06-16 |title=E-Line Startup Looks Set for July 25 |url=https://www.streetcar.org/e-line-startup-looks-set-july-25/ |access-date=2018-06-15}}</ref>

===Proposed extension===
[[File:West portal of Fort Mason Tunnel, June 2017.JPG|thumb|left|The disused Fort Mason Tunnel in 2017]]
An extension of the E Embarcadero to [[Aquatic Park Historic District|Aquatic Park]] is planned but is currently not fully funded.<ref name="transit-renaissance">{{Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Joe Fitzgerald |date=July 30, 2018 |title=Transit renaissance en route for northern waterfront |work=San Francisco Examiner |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/transit-renaissance-en-route-northern-waterfront/ |access-date=October 24, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025070908/http://www.sfexaminer.com/transit-renaissance-en-route-northern-waterfront/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The extension would relocate the terminus from [[Jones and Beach station]] to a new station on Beach street adjacent to Aquatic Park.

The line could be extended past Aquatic Park in the future by the [[National Park Service]]'s proposal to extend the route through the existing [[Fort Mason Tunnel]] and into [[Fort Mason Center]]. As of 2018, the SFMTA was attempting to secure funding for engineering studies in order to advance the project.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Joe Fitzgerald |date=May 28, 2017 |title=Federal funding could drive forward tunnel's future |work=San Francisco Examiner |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/federal-funding-drive-forward-tunnels-future/ |access-date=October 24, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025031309/http://www.sfexaminer.com/federal-funding-drive-forward-tunnels-future/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="transit-renaissance" /> The extension would serve Fort Mason Center and the [[Marina District, San Francisco|Marina district]], identified by the NPS as areas with "inadequate regional transit access" and "limited transportation options for transit-dependent residents,"<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2012 |title=Final Environmental Impact Statement for Extension of F-Line Streetcar Service to Fort Mason Center |url=https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/management/upload/PEPC_Exec_Summary.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630193137/https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/management/upload/PEPC_Exec_Summary.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |publisher=Golden Gate National Recreation Area San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park}}</ref> and providing those areas with a rail connection to regional transportation networks via the [[Market Street subway]] and the [[San Francisco 4th and King Street station|4th and King Caltrain station]].
{{clear left}}

==History==
Muni's original E streetcar line was the [[List of defunct San Francisco Municipal Railway lines#E Union|E Union]] line, running north from the [[San Francisco Ferry Building|Ferry Building]] via [[Embarcadero (San Francisco)|The Embarcadero]] to Washington/Jackson streets, where it turned west to eventually reach the [[Presidio of San Francisco|Presidio]]. This line was discontinued in 1947.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=San Francisco Transit Routes |url=http://www.chicagorailfan.com/sfodate.html |access-date=March 4, 2013 |publisher=Chicago Transit & Railfan Website |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307082700/http://www.chicagorailfan.com/sfodate.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Streetcar demonstration ===
Proposals for historic streetcar service along The Embarcadero were first put forward in 1974, and the first mention of separate E Embarcadero and F Market lines was in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic Streetcars |url=http://www.sfmta.com/about-sfmta/our-history-and-fleet/sfmta-fleet/historic-streetcars |access-date=December 1, 2013 |publisher=[[San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency]] (SFMTA)}}</ref> In 1987, a temporary, demonstration streetcar service was operated along part of the Embarcadero as part of the 1987 [[San Francisco Historic Trolley Festival]], to gauge public interest in, and the practicality of, a regular streetcar service. It ran along then-existing, but disused, [[San Francisco Belt Railroad]] tracks and operated two days a week for a little over five weeks, using two streetcars powered by electricity from portable diesel [[engine-generator|generators]].<ref name="PRN-1987Dec">{{Cite magazine |last=Jewell |first=Don |date=December 1987 |title=Muni [regular news column] |url=http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/549/39100/december-1987-page-38 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Pacific RailNews]] |pages=38–39 |issn=8750-8486 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608180537/http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/549/39101/december-1987-page-39 |archive-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref>

=== Previous E Embarcadero service ===
[[Light rail]] service on the section of The Embarcadero south of Folsom Street and on King Street to the [[San Francisco 4th and King Street station|Caltrain depot]] began on January 10, 1998,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Edward |date=January 9, 1998 |title=Embarcadero Line On Track Tomorrow |page=A-17 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1998/01/09/MN48433.DTL |access-date=March 20, 2009}}</ref> using a [[Muni Metro]] shuttle line between [[Embarcadero Station]] and the Caltrain station. This temporary line was designated '''E Embarcadero''', and it was discontinued when it was replaced in August 1998 by an extension of the [[N Judah]] line.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Michael |date=April 6, 1998 |title=PAGE ONE – Muni's New E-Line No Beeline / Trains more tardy, irregular than buses – SFGate |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/PAGE-ONE-Muni-s-New-E-Line-No-Beeline-Trains-3009399.php |access-date=March 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Edward |date=August 26, 1998 |title=Brown Tries To Soothe Muni Riders / Service on N-Judah line has been abysmal all week – SFGate |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Brown-Tries-To-Soothe-Muni-Riders-Service-on-2994640.php |access-date=March 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Edward |date=January 9, 1998 |title=Muni's Embarcadero Streetcar Line Set to Make First Runs / First of improvements promised for this year |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |publisher=Hearst Communications, Inc. |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Muni-s-Embarcadero-Streetcar-Line-Set-to-Make-3016481.php |access-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref> In 2007 the new [[T Third Street]] line also began operating on this extension.

=== Historic streetcar service ===
Historic streetcar service on The Embarcadero north of [[Don Chee Way]] began in March 2000 when the [[F Market & Wharves]] line was extended to [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco|Fisherman's Wharf]].<ref name="chron-2000mar2">{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Edward |date=March 2, 2000 |title=New way to the wharf; Merchants hope F–Market line will draw locals to tourist attractions |page=A20 |work=[[The San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/New-Way-to-the-Wharf-Merchants-hope-F-Market-3304845.php |url-status=live |access-date=August 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044800/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/New-Way-to-the-Wharf-Merchants-hope-F-Market-3304845.php |archive-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> That extension and the 1998 light rail extension to the Caltrain Depot make up almost the entirety of the E line route; they were connected by unused tracks on The Embarcadero between Don Chee Way and Folsom Street. 

=== Later changes ===
The new E Embarcadero line operated on a temporary basis during the [[2013 America's Cup]] yacht races.

On March 28, 2014, the [[San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency]] (SFMTA) officially approved plans for weekend-only service of the E Embarcadero heritage streetcar line starting in summer 2015, with weeklong service starting the next year.<ref name="RWA" /><ref name="MSR" /> Weekend operation officially began on August 1, 2015,<ref name="BeginService">{{Cite news |last=Cestone |first=Vince |date=July 31, 2015 |title=New Muni E-Embarcadero Line to begin service this weekend |work=[[KRON-TV]] |publisher=Young Broadcasting |url=http://kron4.com/2015/07/31/new-muni-e-embarcadero-line-to-begin-service-this-weekend/ |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804004850/http://kron4.com/2015/07/31/new-muni-e-embarcadero-line-to-begin-service-this-weekend/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and weeklong service began on April 23, 2016.<ref name="April23" /> 

Service was suspended on March 17, 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref name="suspended">{{Cite web |title=COVID-19-related Service Changes |work=[[San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency]] |date=May 20, 2021 |url=https://www.sfmta.com/project-updates/covid-19-related-service-changes |access-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name="curbed">{{Cite news |last=Brinklow |first=Adam |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Bay Area public transit agencies cut hours and routes amid coronavirus outbreak |work=[[Curbed]] |url=https://sf.curbed.com/2020/3/23/21190566/coronavirus-bart-cutbacks-ridership-collapse-muni-ferry |access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> and {{As of|lc=yes|2024|06}} has yet to resume.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E Embarcadero (Suspended) |work=[[San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency]] |date=July 30, 2015 |url=https://www.sfmta.com/routes/e-embarcadero-suspended |access-date=June 6, 2024}}</ref>

==Station/Stop listing==
Though the right-of-way is shared with the two Muni Metro lines on the [[South of Market|South of Market (SoMa)]] segment, the stations themselves are not shared with Muni Metro because historic cars cannot access elevated median boarding platforms. For this reason, existing sidewalk-level stops adjacent to each raised light-rail stop are utilized for the E line. For stops north of Market, the line uses those of the existing [[F Market & Wharves]] line. All stations on the line are accessible.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" | Station/Stop 
! rowspan="2" | Neighborhood
! rowspan="2" | Connections and Notes
|-
!Inbound
!Outbound
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|Jones and Beach}}
| rowspan="4" | [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco|Fisherman's Wharf]]
| {{Unbulleted list
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]], {{Rint|sanfrancisco|cable}} [[San Francisco cable car system|Powell-Hyde]]
   }}
|-
| {{munis|Jefferson and Taylor}}
| rowspan="2" | {{munis|Beach and Mason}}
| rowspan="2" | {{Unbulleted list
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]], {{Rint|sanfrancisco|cable}} [[San Francisco cable car system|Powell-Mason]]
   | {{ferry icon}} [[Blue and Gold Fleet]], [[San Francisco Bay Ferry]] (at [[Pier 41]])
   | {{Bus icon}} Muni: {{Muni route|39}}, {{Muni route|47}}
   | {{Bus icon}} [[Golden Gate Transit]]: [[List of Golden Gate Transit routes#132|132]], [[List of Golden Gate Transit routes#154|154]], [[List of Golden Gate Transit routes#172|172]]
   }}
|-
| {{munis|Jefferson and Powell}}
|-
| {{munis|The Embarcadero and Stockton}}
| {{munis|Beach and Stockton}}
| {{Unbulleted list
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
   | {{Bus icon}} Muni: {{Muni route|39}}
   | Serves [[Pier 39]]
   }}
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |Inbound splits from The Embarcadero towards Jefferson Street; outbound joins The Embarcadero from Beach Street
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Bay}}
|
|{{Unbulleted list
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
   | {{ferry icon}} [[Alcatraz Cruises]] (at Pier 33)
   | {{Bus icon}} Muni: {{Muni route|8}}, {{Muni route|8BX}}
   | {{Bus icon}} Golden Gate Transit: [[List of Golden Gate Transit routes#132|132]], [[List of Golden Gate Transit routes#154|154]], [[List of Golden Gate Transit routes#172|172]]
   | Serves [[Pier 35 (San Francisco)|Pier 35]]
   }}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Sansome}}
|
| {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Greenwich}}
|
|{{Unbulleted list
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
   | {{Bus icon}} Muni: {{Muni route|82X}}
   }}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Green}}
|
|{{Unbulleted list
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
   | Serves [[Exploratorium]]
   }}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Broadway}}
|
| rowspan="2" | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Washington}}
|
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|Ferry Building}}
| [[Financial District, San Francisco|Financial District]]
| {{Unbulleted list
   | {{Rint|BART}} [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] 
   | {{Rint|sanfrancisco|metro}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|j}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|k}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|l}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|m}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|n}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|s}} at [[Embarcadero station]]
   | {{rint|heritage|pcc}} {{Rint|sanfrancisco|F}} [[F Market & Wharves|Market & Wharves]]
   | {{ferry icon}} [[Golden Gate Ferry]], [[San Francisco Bay Ferry]], [[Treasure Island Ferry]] (at [[San Francisco Ferry Building|Ferry Building]])
   | {{Bus icon}} Muni: {{Muni route|6}}, {{Muni route|7X}}, {{Muni route|9}}, {{Muni route|14}}, {{Muni route|14X}}, {{Muni route|21}}, {{Muni route|31}}
   | |{{rint|bus}} Regional bus services: [[Golden Gate Transit]], [[Presidio Go Shuttle]], [[SamTrans]]
   }}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Folsom}}
| rowspan="4" | [[South of Market, San Francisco|SoMa]]
| rowspan="2" | {{Unbulleted list
   | {{Rint|sanfrancisco|metro}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|n}}
   }}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|The Embarcadero and Brannan}}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{munis|2nd and King}}
| {{Unbulleted list
   | {{Rint|sanfrancisco|metro}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|n}}
   | Serves [[Oracle Park]]
   }}
|-
| colspan="2" |{{munis|4th and King}}
| {{Unbulleted list
   | {{Rint|Caltrain}} [[Caltrain]]
   | {{Rint|sanfrancisco|metro}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|n}} {{rint|sanfrancisco|t}}
   | {{Bus icon}} Muni: {{Muni route|10}}, {{Muni route|30}}, {{Muni route|45}}, {{Muni route|47}}, {{Muni route|81X}}, {{Muni route|82X}}, {{Muni route|83X}}
   | {{Bus icon}} [[Flixbus]]
   }}
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/transit/routes-stops/e-embarcadero}}
* [http://www.streetcar.org Market Street Railway]
* [http://www.streetcar.org/mim/streetcars/status/index.html Streetcar Fleet Status]

{{Muni}}
{{USLightRail}}
{{Heritage Streetcars}}

[[Category:San Francisco Municipal Railway]]
[[Category:Streetcars in California]]
[[Category:Heritage streetcar systems]]
[[Category:Heritage railroads in California]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in San Francisco]]
[[Category:600 V DC railway electrification]]