E Embarcadero
| Company type | Public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco, California |
| Owner | San Francisco Municipal Railway (SFMTA) |
| Website | www |
The E Embarcadero represents the second heritage streetcar route operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, running along The Embarcadero corridor in San Francisco, California. Initial trial runs were conducted during the 2008 Sunday Streets events. Originally limited to weekend operations, the service transitioned to a daily schedule starting in April 2016.
Operations were halted indefinitely in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have not resumed as of 2025.
Route
The E Embarcadero line largely traces the path of the former 32 Embarcadero bus route, which was discontinued after the launch of the F Market & Wharves streetcar service along The Embarcadero in 2000. Its route follows The Embarcadero and San Francisco’s Bay Trail, utilizing existing tracks shared with the F Market & Wharves historic streetcar as well as Muni Metro’s N Judah and T Third Street lines. Additionally, it employs previously unused track segments that bypass the Embarcadero portal of the Market Street subway. The line extends from Jones and Jefferson Streets in Fisherman’s Wharf to a point near the N Judah platform at Caltrain’s King Street and 4th Street Station in Mission Bay; trains operating later in the day continue onward to the adjacent T Third platform located at 4th and Berry Streets. Due to the absence of a loop track at Caltrain station, only double-ended streetcars serve this segment until a loop is constructed.
Proposed extension
A proposed extension—currently lacking full funding—would shift the line’s terminus from Jones and Beach Streets to a new stop near Aquatic Park on Beach Street.
Additional plans suggest extending service through the disused Fort Mason Tunnel into Fort Mason Center. This expansion aims to address transit deficiencies in the Marina district and Fort Mason neighborhoods, which have been identified by the National Park Service as underserved areas with limited options for transit-dependent populations. As of 2018, SFMTA was seeking funding to conduct engineering studies necessary for advancing this project. This extension would improve connectivity by linking these communities to regional transit systems via the Market Street subway and Caltrain’s 4th and King Street station.
History
The original Muni E streetcar line was known as the E Union line, which operated northbound from the Ferry Building along The Embarcadero to Washington and Jackson streets before continuing westward to the Presidio. This service ceased operations in 1947.
Streetcar demonstration
Plans for historic streetcar service along The Embarcadero date back to 1974, with separate designations for E Embarcadero and F Market lines first appearing in 1981. In 1987, a temporary demonstration streetcar ran along a portion of The Embarcadero during the San Francisco Historic Trolley Festival, operating twice weekly over more than five weeks on disused San Francisco Belt Railroad tracks. This demonstration utilized two streetcars powered by portable diesel generators to gauge public interest and operational feasibility.
Previous E Embarcadero service
Light rail service south of Folsom Street on The Embarcadero extending to King Street and the Caltrain depot began on January 10, 1998, using a Muni Metro shuttle connecting Embarcadero Station with Caltrain’s terminal. This temporary route was designated E Embarcadero but was discontinued in August 1998 when it was replaced by an extended N Judah line. Later, in 2007, the newly introduced T Third Street line also began operating over this same extension.
Historic streetcar operations
Historic streetcar service along The Embarcadero, north of Don Chee Way, commenced in March 2000 when the F Market & Wharves line was extended to reach Fisherman's Wharf. This addition, combined with the 1998 light rail extension to the Caltrain Depot, constitutes nearly the full route of the E line, linked by previously dormant tracks between Don Chee Way and Folsom Street.
Subsequent developments
The E Embarcadero line was temporarily reactivated during the 2013 America's Cup yacht competition. On March 28, 2014, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) authorized weekend-only operations beginning summer 2015, with plans for daily service starting in 2016. Weekend operations commenced on August 1, 2015, and were expanded to seven-day service as of April 23, 2016.
Operations were halted on March 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained suspended through June 2024.
Although the E line shares track rights with two Muni Metro routes in the SoMa area, it does not share stations because historic streetcars cannot use the elevated median platforms. Consequently, the E line utilizes existing sidewalk-level stops adjacent to raised platforms used by light rail. North of Market Street, it serves stops already in use by the F Market & Wharves line. All stops are fully accessible.
| Station/Stop | Neighborhood | Connections and Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inbound | Outbound | ||
| Template:Munis | Fisherman's Wharf | ||
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| Template:Munis | Template:Munis | ||
| Inbound diverges from The Embarcadero onto Jefferson Street; outbound rejoins The Embarcadero at Beach Street | |||
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| Template:Munis | Template:Rint Template:Rint Market & Wharves | ||
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