Ocean and Lee station
| Company type | Light rail stop |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Light rail transit service (K Ingleside line) |
Ocean and Lee station functions as a light rail stop on the Muni Metro K Ingleside route, situated between San Francisco's Westwood Park and Ingleside neighborhoods. The station features two side platforms: the eastbound (outbound) platform lies on Ocean Avenue just west of Lee Street, while the westbound platform is positioned directly across from it.
Initially opened in 1895 as part of the United Railroads 12 line, the location began serving the K Ingleside line in 1945. In 1952, the area was designated Phelan Loop following construction of a loop for the K line and a busway for route 12 (which had been converted to bus service in 1948), located north of Ocean Avenue and west of Phelan Avenue. Streetcar operations at Phelan Loop ended in 1981, with bus service continuing until 2013. These were eventually replaced by the current Muni Metro platforms at Ocean and Lee and a nearby City College bus terminal.
The station is currently served by bus routes , (weekday peak express), , , and , most of which stop at the City College terminal. Additionally, early morning and late-night service along the K Ingleside line when trains are not running is provided by routes , , and .
History
The private Market Street Railway quickly expanded its Mission Street line branch along Ocean Avenue to reach Victoria Street on December 4, 1895, primarily to serve the newly established Ingleside Racetrack. The line was soon extended to the Ingleside House near Junipero Serra Boulevard. Following damage caused by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, service resumed by May 6, 1906.
On November 25, 1918, an agreement known as the "Parkside Agreements" was signed between the city and URR, permitting Muni streetcars to operate on URR tracks along Junipero Serra Boulevard, Ocean Avenue, and Taraval Street with shared maintenance expenses. By February 21, 1919, the K Ingleside line had been extended southward on Junipero Serra Boulevard and eastward on Ocean Avenue to reach Ocean and Miramar stations; this extension continued further east to Brighton Avenue by May of that year.
After acquiring Market Street Railway in 1944, the city discontinued route 12 service along Ocean Avenue on April 8, 1945, leaving only K Ingleside trains operating there. That same year saw some K cars extended to Mission Street to connect with route . In 1952, Muni constructed a loop for the K line alongside a dedicated busway for route 12 (which had transitioned to bus operation in 1948) north of Ocean Avenue near City College. The tracks along Brighton Avenue were retired on May 18, replaced by Phelan Loop, which served as the terminus until October when alternate services were shortened to terminate at the loop.
During the 1970s, track reconstruction enabled K Ingleside service to extend to Balboa Park station; revenue service commenced on April 23, 1979. Full-time operations beyond Phelan Loop began March 17, 1981; streetcar service at Phelan Loop ended simultaneously and was substituted by platforms located at Ocean Avenue and Lee Street. The streetcar loop’s rails and overhead wires were dismantled shortly thereafter. Bus operations continued using Phelan Loop due to Balboa Park’s lack of a bus terminal.
By the early 2000s, Phelan Loop was regarded as a "bleak" environment compared with nearby commercial areas. Planning initiatives in 2001 proposed developing housing and public spaces on the loop site while relocating buses behind an adjacent fire station closer to Phelan Avenue.
Between February 2001 and June 7, 2003, K Ingleside service was temporarily replaced by buses during the Ocean Avenue Reconstruction and Improvement Project. New side platforms equipped with mini-high accessibility ramps were constructed near Lee Street. In July 2010, Muni obtained a $6.8 million federal grant to facilitate relocating the bus loop. The newly built City College Terminal opened on May 6, 2013 for routes , , and , featuring entry from Ocean Avenue and exit onto Phelan Avenue. Subsequently, residential development occurred on the former loop site; Unity Plaza public space was inaugurated adjacent to it in October 2016.
In 2023, SFMTA launched planning for the K Ingleside Rapid Project aimed at enhancing capacity and cutting travel times along Ocean Avenue. No significant modifications are planned for Lee station due to sufficient existing platform capacity. Initial "quick-build" improvements are slated for early 2024 with full-scale construction anticipated between 2027 and 2029.
External links
- SFMTA – Ocean Avenue & Lee Street inbound and outbound
- SFBay Transit (unofficial) – Ocean Avenue & Lee Street