5 Fulton
| Company type | Public transit route |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | McAllister streetcar line |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco, California |
| Owner | San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |
| Website | www |
5 Fulton is a trolleybus route managed by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). It provides a vital connection between the Outer Richmond neighborhood and the Financial District, playing an essential role in San Francisco's transit system.
Route description
This line operates between the Salesforce Transit Center and the intersection of Cabrillo and La Playa in the Outer Richmond, primarily traveling along McAllister and Fulton Streets. On weekdays, a local service with a short turn ends outbound at Fulton and 6th Avenue. A significant portion of the route runs adjacent to Golden Gate Park. The 5R Fulton Rapid variant follows the same alignment but limits stops east of 6th Avenue to shorten travel durations.
Service is available around the clock, featuring less frequent overnight short turn Owl service as part of the All Nighter network.
History
Originally inaugurated as the McAllister streetcar line in 1906, it operated along Market Street, McAllister, Central, Masonic, and Fulton Streets. In 1909, it was designated as route number 5, marking it as the fifth line of the United Railroads of San Francisco departing from Market Street. By 1911, tracks had been extended all the way to the ocean at La Playa and Balboa Streets. Streetcar operations ceased on June 5, 1948, with buses taking over service; trolleybus operations commenced on July 3, 1949.
The route was renamed 5 Fulton in 1976, with its service area expanded to Cabrillo and La Playa in 1995. The express variant, initially called 5L and later renamed 5R, was launched in 2013. From the late 2000s through the early 2020s, Muni introduced various improvements along the corridor such as bulb-outs, articulated buses, and dedicated bus lanes to enhance safety and speed.
On June 10, 2023, overnight "Owl" service was extended from Jones Street to 4th Street. Due to budget constraints, weekday daytime service will be shortened to terminate at Civic Center station beginning June 21, 2025, as part of the Summer 2025 Muni Service Cuts.
Bibliography
External links
- 5 Fulton — San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency