San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom joined the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and numerous elected and community leaders Feb. 9 to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Central Subway, Phase 2 of the Third Street Light Rail Project.

“It is incredibly gratifying to see construction begin on the Central Subway,” said SFMTA Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “We appreciate the tremendous amount of support from federal, state, and local officials and the incredible efforts of so many community partners who are helping to make this project a reality.”

When it enters operation in 2018, this 1.7-mile extension of the existing T-Third rail line will connect communities from Visitacion Valley to Chinatown with modern, convenient light rail service. The project is expected to improve transit travel times, relieve congestion, enhance the environment, stimulate economic activity along the corridor, and provide thousands of much-needed jobs along the way.

To date, the Central Subway project has received $72 million in federal New Starts funding. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) granted environmental clearance to the project in November 2008, while approval to begin final design was granted in January. The total project cost (with contingency) is expected to be $1.57 billion, with the federal government contributing close to $1 billion.

Earlier this month, the project again received a positive review as part of the New Starts program with a medium-high project justification rating and Medium-High overall rating. In addition, for the first time the president’s Fiscal Year 2011 DOT budget includes a specific funding recommendation of $20 million to support ongoing design work for the project. Three final project design contracts have either been awarded or are in the final stages of negotiation.

“The Central Subway represents a dramatic investment in San Francisco’s transportation future,” the mayor said. “Tens of thousands of residents and visitors will use this environmentally friendly subway to get to work, school, and to see their families and friends.”

SFMTA cited recent estimates that show the Central Subway supporting between 37,000 and 43,000 jobs over the life of the project.

Photo courtesy of SFMTA Participants in the ground breaking for SFMTA’s Central Subway include, from left, John Funghi, senior program manager, SFMTA Central Subway Project; Carolyn Diamond, director, Market Street Association, and Central Subway Community Advisory Board member; Dan Bernal, district director for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., SFMTA executive director/CEO; Tom Nolan, SFMTA board chairman; San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; David Chiu, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors; Ross Mirkarimi, chairman of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA); and SFCTA Executive Director Jose Luis Moscovich.

 

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