Taraval and 32nd Avenue station
| Company type | Light rail stop |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | April 12, 1919 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | Parkside district, San Francisco |
| Products | Light rail transit service |
Taraval and 32nd Avenue functions as a light rail stop on San Francisco's Muni Metro L Taraval line, situated within the Parkside district. The station commenced operations alongside the initial segment of the L Taraval line on April 12, 1919. Before this, a sporadic shuttle service operated on a United Railroads route dating back to approximately 1910. The nearby stop at 33rd Avenue served as the line’s terminus until the extension reached 48th Avenue on January 14, 1923.
Service
Between August 2020 and September 2024, rail service along the L Taraval corridor was replaced by bus routes to allow for comprehensive line upgrades.[1]
During hours when trains do not run, such as early mornings and late nights, the stop is served by the and bus lines.[2]
History
In June 1908, the Parkside Transit Company, a subsidiary of United Railroads (URR), constructed a single-track route along 20th Avenue to connect with existing lines. By around 1910, a shuttle operated along Taraval Street and adjacent avenues, linking with the 12 Ocean line at Sloat Boulevard.[3] This limited URR operation impeded Municipal Railway’s expansion efforts into Parkside.
The "Parkside Agreements" signed on November 25, 1918 permitted Muni streetcars to utilize URR tracks along Taraval Street and Ocean Avenue in exchange for fees and shared maintenance responsibilities.[4] Subsequently, Muni launched the L Taraval service to 33rd Avenue on April 12, 1919 using reconstructed URR tracks west of 20th Avenue; this location served as the terminus until the route extended to 48th Avenue in January 1923.[4] By late 1927, URR had ceased operating their Parkside Shuttle.[5]
Planned changes
Similar to numerous stops along the L Taraval line, the Taraval and 32nd Avenue station lacks dedicated platforms; trains halt at designated poles before the intersection, requiring passengers to cross traffic lanes to board. In March 2014, Muni introduced its Transit Effectiveness Project—later renamed MuniForward—which included proposed modifications for stops on the L Taraval line. The plans called for relocating stops at 32nd Avenue to the far side of the intersection with new boarding islands and implementing transit signal priority to replace stop signs, thereby minimizing double stopping.
On September 20, 2016, the SFMTA Board approved the L Taraval Rapid Project with construction scheduled between 2018 and 2020. Although boarding islands are slated for installation at 32nd Avenue, stops will remain positioned on the near side of the cross street. Initial steps involved painting clear zones for outbound boarding islands in early 2017.
Local merchants expressed concerns regarding parking space reductions caused by boarding islands. To address this, the Board initiated a pilot program on five inbound stops—26th, 30th, 32nd, 35th, and 40th Avenues—featuring painted stripes and signage instructing vehicles to stop behind trains during boarding periods. If compliance reached at least 90% during the six-month trial from April to October 2017, constructing inbound boarding islands could be avoided. However, compliance averaged only 74%, leading to plans for boarding islands at all but the stop at 35th Avenue—which was closed in 2018 due to operational considerations. Instead, painted clear zones will be added at the remaining four inbound stops in 2018.
Following a five-month suspension caused by COVID-19 precautions, Muni Metro service resumed on August 22, 2020; however, L Taraval operations west of Sunset Boulevard remained halted due to ongoing construction. Trains turned back west of 35th Avenue utilizing a crossover track. To support transfers between buses and trains during this period, a temporary accessible inbound platform was erected at 32nd Avenue. Shortly after reopening, rail service was again replaced by buses beginning August 25 because of overhead wire splice complications and quarantine measures affecting control center personnel after a COVID-19 case.
External links
- SFMTA: Taraval Street & 32nd Avenue inbound and outbound
- SF Bay Transit (unofficial): Taraval Street & 32nd Avenue
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