SFMTA Central Subway readies fare gates, ticket vending machines

San Fransico Municipal Transporation Agency (SFMTA) crews in October 2021 began installing and testing fare gate and ticket vending machine equipment at new underground stations that hundreds of Muni customers will use to pay for fares once the Central Subway opens next year.

In addition to the new equipment being put into place at Chinatown/Rose Pak, Union Square/Market Street and Yerba Buena/Moscone stations, SFMTA is also continuing the train testing necessary to help reach its goal of beginning service in 2022.

From the earliest stages of planning, the infrastructure design took into account the need for revenue management equipment like gates and fare machines. Like appliance placement in a brand-new home, architects developed the layout which construction workers build-out of the station’s interior. Crews will secure equipment, connect it to power and data sources and ensure cabling is in the appropriate location based on the station’s floor plan.

With construction winding down, the new equipment can now be bolted to the floor and any infrastructure adjustments can be made as needed. Network engineers at the SFMTA have also built the fiber-optic data network that will connect Central Subway stations to the central data system.

Muni Metro riders that frequent stations between Van Ness and Embarcadero are likely familiar with the self-serve machines near station entrances allowing Muni customers to load value on Clipper for iPhone and Android devices before tapping at fare gates leading to a station’s platform level. The Central Subway’s ticket vending machines and fare gates are identical to those found at other underground Metro stations and customers will pay for fares just like anywhere else in the system.

Testing of fare gates and ticket vending machines will begin soon after installation as a part of the project’s current phase of testing critical systems.