City officials, riders and advocates celebrate opening of Muni E Line on the Embarcadero

City leaders and transit advocates gathered in the morning to mark the opening of the Muni E Line extension along the Embarcadero, celebrating a new connection from AT&T Park toward Fisherman's Wharf using rehabilitated historic streetcars.

"Let's celebrate this new service," Mayor Ed Lee said, praising the $500 million bond voters approved last year and honoring leaders who pushed the project forward. The mayor and other speakers framed the E Line as both a preservation of historic streetcars and an expansion of service to relieve congestion in popular waterfront neighborhoods.

Supervisor Julie Christensen and Supervisor Jane Kim both described the extension as a long-sought improvement for dense neighborhoods that rely on transit, citing pedestrian safety and expanded access to jobs and services. Scott Wiener, as chair of the County Transportation Authority, highlighted investments including a $41 million cap-and-trade grant to expand the light-rail fleet.

Market Street Railway and local community leaders also urged extensions to Fort Mason and Dogpatch. Rick Lobscher, president of the Market Street Railway Association, recounted decades of advocacy to restore historic cars and noted gifts and partnerships that made the opening possible.

Officials said weekend service would begin at 10 a.m. the next day, initially running 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends with a plan to expand to seven-day service next year. The event included recognition of volunteers, Muni maintenance staff and funders who supported the project.

Speakers also acknowledged the technical and operational teams at SFMTA, thanked federal, state and local partners, and encouraged residents to ride the new service.