17th Street and Castro station
| Company type | Muni Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 11, 1980 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco, California |
| Products | Muni Metro services (K Ingleside, M Ocean View, L Taraval, S Shuttle), F Market line (street level) |
Castro station is a Muni Metro facility situated at the intersection of Market Street, Castro Street, and 17th Street within San Francisco's Castro District. This subterranean station accommodates the K Ingleside, M Ocean View, L Taraval, and S Shuttle routes, while the F Market line operates at street level near 17th and Castro.
Station layout and history
Located on the second level, the station features two slightly curved side platforms, a design necessitated by the shift from the Market Street subway to the Twin Peaks Tunnel. Distinct from other stations along Market Street subway, both Castro and have a single entrance on each side of Market Street. The southern access point is positioned in Harvey Milk Plaza at Market and Castro, whereas the northern entrance and elevator are found at Market and 17th.
Originally built by BART as an element of the Market Street subway system, the name "Castro" was officially approved by the BART Board in December 1965. The station’s design was crafted by Howard Grant AIA from Reid & Tarics Associates, with construction completed in 1976 and service commencing on June 11, 1980.
The transit plaza located at Castro and Market was named in honor of Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official, in 1985. In May 2016, escalators within Harvey Milk Plaza were upgraded with colored lighting inspired by the rainbow flag, a feature that was subsequently extended to 17 additional Muni Metro escalators between 2018 and 2019.
Plans by Muni include enhancing accessibility by adding a second elevator at the south entrance of Harvey Milk Plaza. Although a 2020 evaluation considered the plaza's historical significance, it is not anticipated to postpone elevator installation. Construction began in June 2023, with completion expected by 2026.
In 2022, as part of the Upper Market Street Safety Project, ornamental railings were installed on the F Market & Wharves boarding island. These railings display a quotation from Harvey Milk’s 1977 "You've Got to Have Hope" address alongside an illustration of streetcar #1051, which is dedicated to Milk.