San Francisco – E Line Delayed

Rail Transit Online – January 2005

Plans for the E-Embarcadero Line, a new historic trolley route linking Fisherman's Wharf with the Caltrain station at 4th and Townsend streets, have been shelved indefinitely because of the Municipal Railway’s budget crisis.  The E-Line has long been planned as a companion to the highly popular F-Market & Wharves route, which runs on Market Street to the Embarcadero, then along the waterfront to the Wharf using refurbished PCCs and ex-Milan Peter Witt cars.  The E would utilize existing Muni Metro tracks from the Caltrain terminal to the downtown subway portal, then join the F Line using a two-block surface connection installed five years ago.  Despite obvious demand by local riders and tourists, Muni officials said they cannot consider any new service until a looming $65-million deficit has been resolved.  The capital cost would be significant since Muni would have to build a loop or a wye at 4th and King Streets to reverse the streetcars.