SFMTA announces modest Feb. service changes, central subway closure and warns of possible summer cuts

Interim Director Julie Kirschbaum told the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors on Jan. 21 that relatively modest citywide schedule changes will take effect Feb. 1 to support downtown economic recovery and to align operator schedules.

Kirschbaum said the February changes were designed to minimize customer impacts while improving system efficiency, noting some reductions are targeted where ridership is low or where parallel service exists. She also announced a separate Central Subway tunnel closure from Feb. 26 to March 14 to address water seepage; crews will stage preparatory work starting Feb. 3 with more visible station prep Feb. 17–26 and a shuttle bus operating between Chinatown (Rose Pak) Station and 4th and King during the closure. The T line will be rerouted into the Market Street subway during the work.

Why it matters: The announcements include service adjustments that affect riders beginning in February and a multiweek closure of a key segment of central subway that will change travel patterns in late February and early March. Board members were also warned that greater summer service reductions are possible without new revenue.

Details and scheduling

Kirschbaum…