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| SFMTA home > Transit > Projects & Planning > Central Subway Overview | |
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Letters in Support of the Central Subway ProjectThe following document contains letters from various agencies supporting the Central Subway project. Letters of support received (tagged OCR pdf, 1 meg) On February 5, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced its annual ratings for projects competing for federal New Starts funds, including the Central Subway. The Central Subway received a very positive review - its overall project rating rose to “medium-high” from the “medium” rating received last year and the cost effectiveness rating rose to “medium” from “medium-low.” The project also was awarded a “medium-high” project justification rating, a “medium-high” rating for mobility improvements and a “high” rating for land use benefits. The Central Subway project is one of only 10 nationwide currently approved by the FTA for preliminary engineering.
On February 19, the SFMTA Board voted to adopt a new Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) with an alignment along Fourth and Stockton Streets for the Central Subway. In June 2005, the SFMTA Board earlier adopted a 1.7-mile Fourth/Stockton alignment with three subway stations as the LPA. The newly adopted modified LPA adds a surface station at Fourth and Brannan Streets and extends construction tunnels to North Beach. The three subway stations are located at Moscone Center, Union Square/Market Street and Chinatown. The adoption of the modified LPA comes after months of review and public comment on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft SEIS/SEIR) which included evaluation of three alternatives for the Central Subway. The LPA was selected from one of the three alternatives, Alternative 3B evaluated in the Draft SEIS/SEIR. The Central Subway Draft SEIS/SEIR was released for public review on October 17, 2007. The public review period ended the week of December 10, 2007. Two community meetings were held on October 30, 2007, and November 8, 2007, to provide information on the environmental document and findings. The San Francisco Planning Commission held a public hearing on the adequacy and the accuracy of Draft SEIS/SEIR on November 15, 2007. In addition to the comments at the public hearing, approximately 41 comment letters and comment forms were received from agencies, interest groups and individuals. Responses to each of the comments received on the document will be included in the Final SEIS/SEIR which is expected to be completed in July 2008. Copies of the Final SEIS/SEIR will be sent to all agencies, organizations and persons who commented on the document. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is expected to issue a Record of Decision (ROD) in the fall of 2008, which is the last step of the federal environmental review process. Construction is expected to start in 2010 and operation is expected to start in 2016. Overview of the Central Subway ProjectThe Central Subway Project is Phase 2 of the Third Street Light Rail Project that will link Little Hollywood and Visitación Valley with Union Square and Chinatown. This project is vital to connecting the city’s civic, business and cultural centers with the diverse communities along the corridor. Once complete, the project will improve service reliability and travel times, enhance transit connections, and provide economic opportunities and access to jobs for local residents. The project is supported by a financial plan that includes significant contributions at the federal, state and local levels. Benefits of the Central Subway The Central Subway is a critical transportation improvement linking neighborhoods in the southeastern part of the City with the retail and employment centers downtown and in Chinatown. The project:
Central Subway StatusThe initial phase of the Third Street Light Rail Project began operating in April of 2007, with 18 stations serving communities along a 5.1-mile alignment from Visitación Valley to Fourth and King Streets.
The San Francisco Arts Commission, through the Public Art Program, will conduct the Central Subway Public Arts Program with a diverse and exciting range of artworks. As with all new City and County capital improvement projects, 2% of the eligible Central Subway construction costs will be allocated for public art. These funds will be used to develop an arts master plan with communities along the project corridor. Program activities will include recruiting artists, establishing selection panels, overseeing the development and approval of artwork designs, and conducting public outreach. The Arts Commission is currently working with local communities and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to develop a comprehensive arts program to reflect the rich culture and history of the neighborhoods in which this new transit system will be located. The Central Subway Public Art Program will provide opportunities for both local and national artists who are new to public art as well as those with more comprehensive public art experience. For additional information about the Central Subway Public Art Program, visit the Arts Commission Public Art Program website.
To Contact Central Subway StaffIf you would like more information about the Central Subway please contact project staff at: Telephone Project Infoline: Mailing Address: To add your name to the Central Subway, write to: central.subway@sfmta.com Press InquiriesMembers of the press, please contact Judson True, SFMTA’s Media Relations Manager, at 415.701.4582 or via e-mail at judson.true@sfmta.com. |
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San Francisco Muni is part of the SFMTA. Copyright © 2000-2008 SFMTA. All rights reserved. Updated July 3, 2008
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