21 Hayes
| Company type | Public transit route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Founder | Thomas Hayes |
| Defunct | June 21, 2025 |
| Fate | Consolidated with 6 Haight/Parnassus line |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco, California |
| Owner | San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) |
21 Hayes was a trolleybus route managed by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), linking the Civic Center area with neighborhoods situated northeast of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. On June 21, 2025, this route was consolidated with the 6 Haight/Parnassus line.
History
The horse-drawn streetcar service along Hayes Street originated in 1860, initiated by Thomas Hayes. By 1883, the Market Street Railway had upgraded the line for cable car operation, with its terminus located at the Ferry Building.
Although the 1906 San Francisco earthquake caused extensive damage to the line, electric streetcar service was restored within two months. Nevertheless, the steep incline between Pierce and Scott streets posed challenges for electric traction. The United Railroads, which succeeded Market Street Railway, launched two new routes; among them, the "Hayes and Ellis" line operated from Ellis and Market Streets outbound through Ellis, Divisadero, Hayes, and Stanyan streets to Fulton. This route received the number 21 in 1911. A grade reduction project completed in 1914 enabled uninterrupted service along Hayes Street. During the 1930s, the line was extended westward and northward to reach 8th and Clement in the Inner Richmond district. Streetcar operations ceased on June 5, 1948, with trolleybus service commencing in 1949 as a replacement.
Operations were halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but recommenced in July 2022 using motor coaches and a shortened inbound terminal at Market Street. Due to financial limitations, the 6 Haight/Parnassus and 21 lines were combined on June 21, 2025, as part of Muni's Summer 2025 Service Reductions.
External links
- 21 Hayes — Official SFMTA route details