24 Divisadero
| Company type | Public transit route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1941 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco, California |
| Products | Trolleybus service |
| Parent | San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) |
24 Divisadero is a trolleybus route managed by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), predominantly operating in a north–south direction along Divisadero Street and Castro Street. This line serves vital transit corridors within San Francisco, linking various neighborhoods and aiding daily commuter movement. Spanning 6.6 miles, the route begins at Jackson and Webster and terminates at Third Street and Palou, with an overnight Owl service variant that covers Divisadero and Sutter streets.
The fleet consists of New Flyer XT40 trolleybuses, accommodating an average ridership of 12,000 passengers per day as of 2019, underscoring its importance in the city's transit framework. Inaugurated in 1941, this line replaced the former Castro Street Cable line and continues to be a crucial component of Muni’s trolleybus network.
Route description
Starting at its northern endpoint at Jackson and Webster, the route heads westward to Divisadero before proceeding south along Castro Street until reaching 26th Street. It then continues through 26th, Noe, 30th, Mission Street, Cortland, Bayshore, Industrial, and Palou streets. The outbound terminal is situated near the Muni Metro Oakdale/Palou station on Third Street.
The 24 Divisadero line links the southern neighborhood of Hunters Point with northern Pacific Heights. Notably, it includes the steepest grade recorded on any trolleybus route worldwide—a 22.8% incline on Noe Street between Cesar Chavez Street and 26th Street.
This service operates around the clock with reduced frequency during overnight hours through a short turn Owl bus service as part of the All Nighter network.
History
Initially part of the Market Street Extension, steam dummy trains operated between Market and Valencia to Castro Street via the Market Street Cable Railway. In 1887, this line was converted to cable car operation providing continuous service to Castro and 26th Streets; it was known as the White Line due to its streetcar paint scheme. Following the 1906 earthquake reconstruction with electric traction systems, cable cars remained on Castro because of steep inclines deemed unsuitable for electric vehicles. After the disaster, shuttle cable car service resumed between 18th and 26th Streets.
On June 16, 1935, the Market Street Railway adjusted its 24 streetcar route to run along Divisadero between Page and Sacramento. The Castro cable car was replaced by the 24 Divisadero bus on April 6, 1941. In 1982, modifications extended this line to reach Third and Palou via Cortland.
External links
- 24 Divisadero — SFMTA official page