Central Subway Tunnel Closed: February 26 - March 14, 2025

Share this:

Beginning February 26 through March 14, the Central Subway tunnel will be closed while crews work to resolve water intrusion issues at Chinatown-Rose Pak Station. See below for alternative transit options during closure.

At 100 feet below the ground, the Chinatown Rose-Pak Station is among our deepest Muni Metro stations and sits below the water table. While it is normal to have some water seep into the tunnel, like that at the Market Street tunnel, the intrusion into Chinatown-Rose Pak Station is causing additional impacts: water on the staircase, seepage at joints and water damage on tunnel panels. This work will involve injecting grout into any voids behind the platform cavern and sealing any punctures in the existing waterproofing membrane. 

Because there are no crossover tracks to turn the trains around at Union Square/Powell station, the water mitigation work will require us to temporarily close the Central Subway tunnel between Chinatown-Rose Pak and 4th/Brannan stations.

While work is taking place, we will use the station closure as an opportunity to complete other work, such as installing public art at the plaza level, plaza roof gutter installation and drainage system restoration.


Map showing Central Subway Tunnel closures and alternative routes. Chinatown, Union Square, Yerba Buena and 4th/Brannan stations will be closed. Alternative routes include T Bus shuttle, KT train, 30 Stockton, 45 Union-Stockton and 8 Bayshore.

 

Muni Service Plan during February 26 – March 14 closure
 

  • Central Subway tunnel will be closed from Chinatown-Rose Pak station to 4th & Brannan. This includes closures of Union Square/Market Street and Yerba Buena/Moscone stations. 
     
  • T Bus shuttle will operate between Chinatown-Rose Pak Station and the 4th and King stop. The T Bus will serve Route 30 bus stops on 4th St, 3rd St, Kearny St, and Stockton St.  T Buses will show as route “TBUS” for real time predictions and trip planning using digital apps.
     
  • K Ingleside and T Third Street lines will operate as a single combined KT Train service that runs from Sunnydale to 4th/King, along King and the Embarcadero into Market St Subway, and outbound as a K Train to Balboa Park. KT trains will be labeled either “T” or “KT” on the headsign and will show as route “KT” for real time predictions and trip planning using digital apps.
     
  • Customers can transfer between T Bus and KT Train at 4th & King. Buses and trains will be scheduled to minimize wait times. Staying on the KT Train may be fastest to some destinations.
     
  • The 45 Union/Stockton, 30 Stockton, 30 Stockton “Short” and 8 Bayshore will continue to operate as they do today throughout the closure. 
     
  • NOTE: Beginning on March 15 after work has been completed, the 30 Stockton “Short” will begin a new, shorter route between Van Ness/North Point and Post Street in Union Square. The frequency will remain the same on Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street. See the Muni Service Changes page for more information on changes to the 30 Stockton “Short”.
     
Travel Direction Alternative Route(s) Destinations Served
Southbound from Chinatown-Rose Pak to 4th/King (Caltrain)
  • T Bus: From Chinatown Rose-Pak, travels south on Stockton, onto 4th St, to 4th/King. The T Bus will use 30 Stockton bus stops along the way, with additional stops at 4th/Brannan and 4th/King (at Berry). Look for buses labeled “T Bus.”
  • 30 Stockton, 30 Stockton “Short” and 45 Union-Stockton: At Caltrain, they drop off at Townsend/4th and will require a short walk/roll to 4th/King.
 Chinatown, Union Square, Yerba Buena, SOMA, Caltrain 
Northbound from 4th/King (Caltrain) to Chinatown-Rose Pak
  • T Bus: From 4th/King, travels north on 4th, east on Townsend, north on 3rd St, onto Kearny St, west on Sutter, north on Stockton to Chinatown-Rose Pak. The T Bus will use 30 Stockton bus stops along the way. Look for buses labeled “T Bus.”
  • 30 Stockton, 30 Stockton “Short” and 45 Union-Stockton: First stop will be Townsend and Lusk.
 Caltrain, SOMA, Yerba Buena, Union Square, Chinatown
Northbound/westbound from Sunnydale to Market Street and Balboa Park
  • KT Train: From Sunnydale/Bayshore, operates as “T” north along Bayshore, north on 3rd, west on Channel, north on 4th, east on King, north along the Embarcadero, enters Market Street Subway at Embarcadero Station. Continues westbound to West Portal and Balboa Park as a “K”. Serves all T Third stops, N Judah stops between 2nd and Folsom, and K Ingleside stops between Embarcadero & Balboa Park.
 Visitacion Valley, Bayview, Hunters Point, Dogpatch, Mission Bay, Chase Center, South Park, Downtown, West Portal, Ocean Ave, Balboa Park
Eastbound/southbound from Balboa Park to Market Street and Sunnydale
  • KT Train: From Balboa Park, west on Ocean, north on Junipero Serra, north on West Portal Ave, enters Market Street Subway at West Portal. Continues eastbound as a “T”, exiting subway south along Embarcadero and Third Street to Sunnydale Station. Serves all K Ingleside stops from Balboa Park to Embarcadero, N Judah stops between Folsom and 2nd, and T Third stops between 4th/King and Sunnydale.
 Balboa Park, Ocean Ave, West Portal, Downtown, South Park, Chase Center, Mission Bay, Dogpatch, Hunters Point, Bayview, Visitacion Valley
Southbound from Market Street/BART to Chase Center
  • Muni runs extra train service to Chase Center for large events. Board eastbound “S Shuttle” train to Chase Center/Mission Bay or eastbound/southbound KT Train (aka T Train) to Sunnydale. Board from any Market Street subway station Muni platform and exit at UCSF/Chase Center.
 Downtown, Chase Center
Northbound from Chase Center to Market Street/BART
  • Muni runs extra train service from Chase Center for large events. Board the regular T Third platform outside of Chase Center and take any train northbound. All trains will go to the Market Street subway/BART stations. KT Trains will continue outbound to West Portal and along the K Line to Balboa Park. “S Shuttle” trains will go to Embarcadero Station.
 Chase Center, Downtown

Construction Timeline
 

Starting January 27

  • So as not to impact transit riders, crews will begin preparing the worksite at Chinatown-Rose Pak Station during early morning non-revenue hours. Crews will also prepare the “back of the house” area.

February 6 – February 25

  • The crew will remove two kiosks, benches, trash cans, and ceiling panels at the platform level. Scaffolding and protection to the glass stairways at the platform level will be installed. A barricaded area will be constructed on the north end of the platform to stage equipment. This activity will not impact transit operations and riders.

February 26 – March 14

  • Major work begins. The Central Subway tunnel will be closed from Chinatown-Rose Pak station to 4th & Brannan. 

 

Other Impacts During Construction

  • Parking: Three parking spaces on Washington Street between Stockton and Powell streets will be temporarily restricted for construction.
  • Driving: There will be no impacts to travel lanes. 
  • Materials storage: The empty lot at 4th and Folsom will be used for staging materials and equipment. There may be increased activity of vehicles and crews at this location.