While Phase 2 of the Muni Metro Escalator Rehabilitation Project continues at Muni subway stations, the outdoor escalator at south entrance of Church Street Station has broken down. As a result, the rehabilitation of this escalator has been prioritized as emergency work. Construction will begin in early April. The escalator will be out of service for about five months. During this time, the stairway next to the escalator will remain open. Customers unable to walk up the stairs can use the station elevator or the escalator on the north for service.
Upgrades originally planned for the escalator serving the inbound platform will not take place until the outdoor escalator at the south entrance is completed at this station.
Most of the old escalators at Muni Metro stations have been on the job for over 40 years. They are outdated and easily break down. The new units equipped with state of art technology will make the Muni system safer, more reliable and accessible, especially for seniors and customers with special needs.
Work hours for the escalator project will be from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays with some weekend work required.
To ensure safety as well as contain construction debris and minimize noise levels, a wooden barricade will be built around the escalator under construction.
Phase 2 of the escalator project began in November 2015. The project is to rehabilitate 17 escalators at Montgomery, Powell, Hallidie Plaza, Civic Center, Van Ness, Church and Castro. Concurrently with the work at Church Station, upgrades are also taking place on the escalator at west entrance of Powell Station leading up to Hallidie Plaza.