SFMTA issues update on cable cars and Muni’s historic fleet

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has developed a timeline to phase in cable car service, as well as bring back service on the historic F Line fleet.  

These services were temporarily halted last March in response to COVID-19 to help best protect operators and the public. SFMTA then shifted resources to a core network to serve essential workers and accommodate physical distancing on its most utilized lines and to retain access for transit dependent neighborhoods.  

Now, thanks to the acceleration of the COVID-19 vaccine and a more optimistic outlook for federal funding for public transit, SFMTA says it can craft a path forward. The plan is to resume F Line service this May, seven days a week. Cable car service will return on the Powell-Hyde line, between Market Street and Fisherman’s Wharf, first this fall — ahead of the holiday season. The cable cars run through the heart of the city and will play a fundamental role in helping the city’s economy recover.  

In the meantime, SFMTA notes there is a lot of work ahead before service returns such as retraining operators, hiring line inspectors and preparing infrastructure to accommodate daily ridership again.    

SFMTA says it is committed to restarting cable car service and is aware of the value they have for San Francisco’s history and economy.