Improvements Continue for California Street Cable Car Line and Roadway: Phase Two includes closure of California Cable Car Line starting in January

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates the Municipal Railway (Muni), reminds BOMA San Francisco members that Phase Two of the California Cable Car Infrastructure Improvement Project will require the closure of the California Cable Car Line for six months from January to July 2011. The SFMTA and the Department of Public Works (DPW) began Phase One of the project in September 2011. For this project, the SFMTA and DPW will replace aging underground components of the cable car line and repave 17 blocks on California Street between Drumm Street and Van Ness Avenue.

The California Street Infrastructure Improvement Project is a result of years of planning and coordination between City agencies that will:

• Replace necessary electrical and mechanical components to support the safe operation of the cable car system (i.e. conduits, pulley brackets, switches)
• Reconstruct concrete streets
• Repave street
• Perform construction and installation of curb ramps at every intersection (excluding Van Ness Avenue and Stockton and Sabin streets) to comply with the Americans with Disability Act requirements
• Repair sidewalk curbs
• Replace sewer

Phase One of the California Cable Car Infrastructure Project began in September and started work on sidewalk curb repairs, sewer replacement and curb ramps installation along 17 blocks of California Street between Van Ness Avenue and Drumm Street. A moratorium on street excavation and construction on commercial corridors will take place the day after Thanksgiving and into January. This routine moratorium helps minimize construction impacts to businesses and shoppers during the peak shopping season and reduces traffic congestion during this busy time of year.

Phase Two of the project will begin in January and replace aging electronic and mechanical components underneath the cable car trackway to ensure the continued safe operation of the cable car system. Work will also include reconstruction of concrete streets between Mason Street and Kearny Street and street repaving along California Street and any work remaining from Phase One.

Construction is scheduled for Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., although night and Sunday work may be necessary. Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum.  Local businesses will remain open for business during construction.