Long Delayed, $1.95 Billion Central Subway Opens in San Francisco

San Francisco’s first north-south subway opened last weekend, extending service on Muni’s T light rail line.

1 minute read

November 22, 2022, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Central Subway Construction

The Central Subway project, under construction in 2019. | Michael Vi / Shutterstock

San Francisco’s Central Subway, under construction for a decade and planned for four decades, finally opened to the public over the weekend.

“The subway cuts through the most densely populated parts of San Francisco and carries particular importance for the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, whose residents hope it will spur an economic revival,” according to an article by Ricardo Cano for the San Francisco Chronicle.

The first Central Subway train left Chinatown at 8 am on Saturday, and the Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni) is operating limited weekend service through the first week of January, according to the article. “When it opens for full service on Jan. 7, the T line will take riders from Bayview-Hunters Point to Chinatown via the city’s first north-south subway and connect riders to BART, Caltrain and Muni’s other light-rail lines on Market Street,” writes Cano.

More details on the long past and the potential future of the subway are available from a separate article by Cano and J.D. Morris published a few days before the opening.

The subway opens four years behind schedule and 20 percent over budget, attracting stinging criticism right up until opening day.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today