Taraval and 44th Avenue station
| Company type | Light rail stop |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | January 14, 1923 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | Parkside district, San Francisco |
| Products | Light rail transit service (L Taraval line) |
Taraval and 44th Avenue functions as a light rail stop on San Francisco's Muni Metro L Taraval line, situated within the Parkside district. This station commenced operations on January 14, 1923, coinciding with the launch of the second segment of the L Taraval route.
Service
To accommodate construction upgrades along the L Taraval corridor, train operations were substituted with bus service starting in August 2020. This infrastructure enhancement project concluded on September 28, 2024, at which point rail service was reinstated.
During periods when trains are inactive—specifically early mornings and late nights—the stop is served by the and bus lines.
Reconstruction
Initially, the Taraval and 44th Avenue stop lacked dedicated platforms; riders boarded directly from the street after crossing traffic lanes. In March 2014, Muni introduced proposals as part of its Transit Effectiveness Project (later renamed MuniForward), which included plans to eliminate stops at 44th Avenue to optimize stop spacing.
On September 20, 2016, the SFMTA Board gave approval to the L Taraval Rapid Project. Preliminary modifications, such as removing certain stops, began on February 25, 2017; however, stops at 44th Avenue were temporarily preserved due to community feedback. Should these stops remain following additional evaluation, installation of concrete boarding islands was planned.
By November 2017, Muni staff advocated for removal of this stop to improve service reliability and recover parking spaces. Nevertheless, in December 2017, the SFMTA Board decided to retain the stop and proceed with constructing boarding islands.
Construction for the initial phase—from 33rd to 46th Avenue—commenced in September 2019. Although Muni Metro services resumed on August 22, 2020, L Taraval trains west of Sunset Boulevard continued to be suspended for ongoing construction. Subsequently, due to complications with overhead wiring and staffing challenges related to COVID-19, rail service was once again replaced by buses starting August 25.
Work on the eastbound platform began on December 10, 2020, followed by westbound platform construction starting January 4, 2021. The first phase of improvements—including new platforms at 44th Avenue—was finalized in July 2021.
External links
- SFMTA: Taraval St & 44th Ave eastbound and westbound
- SF Bay Transit (unofficial): Taraval St & 44th Ave