Union Square/Market Street station

Union Square/Market Street station is an underground Muni Metro light rail station located adjacent to the southeast corner of Union Square in San Francisco, California. It opened on November 19, 2022, as part of the Central Subway project. It is the penultimate northbound station on the T Third Street, since T service moved to the Central Subway on January 7, 2023.[2][3]

Muni Metro station Union Square/Market Street
A train at Union Square/Market Street station in November 2022
General information
LocationStockton Street and Geary Street
San Francisco, California
Coordinates37°47′16″N 122°24′25″W / 37.787682°N 122.407036°W / 37.787682; -122.407036
Line(s)Central Subway
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedNovember 19, 2022
Passengers
February 20231,498 daily boardings[1]
Services
Preceding station Muni Following station
Chinatown
Terminus
T Third Street Yerba Buena/​Moscone
towards Sunnydale
Location
Map

Construction

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Concrete being poured in September 2017

The station is located under Stockton Street between Geary Street and Market Street. The main entrance is on Geary Street at the southeast corner of Union Square. The south end of the station is connected to the mezzanine level of the existing Powell Street station outside fare control.[4] The existing entrance to Powell Street station on Stockton Street at Ellis Street was purchased from BART for one dollar, and was temporarily closed in 2014 so it could be converted into a shared entrance to both stations.[5]

Station excavation was completed by July 2017, and concrete was poured for the station floor.[6]

Stockton Street reopened between Geary Street and Ellis Street on February 22, 2019. Muni route 8/8AX/8BX and 91 buses returned to lower Stockton Street and 4th Street on February 25; route 30 and 45 trolleybuses returned on April 13 after overhead wires were re-installed.[7][8]

San Francisco Chronicle architecture critic John King called Union Square/Market Street the "most disappointing in terms of design" of the Central Subway stations. King criticized the bare concrete walls and large ceiling beams of the platform level, as well as the "nondescript" nature of the Union Square headhouse.[9]

Artwork

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Of the ten artworks installed for the Central Subway, three are located at Union Square/Market Street station:

  • Lucy in the Sky by Erwin Redl consists of Hundreds of 10 by 10 inches (250 mm × 250 mm) LED-array-illuminated translucent panels on the ceiling of the concourse level, programmed to change colors, display patterns, and animations.[10]
  • Illuminated Scroll by Jim Campbell and Werner Klotz is a stainless steel ribbon measuring approximately 250 feet (76 m) long and varying in width between 4–8 feet (1.2–2.4 m) that winds above the platform.[10]
  • Convergence: Commute Patterns by Hughen Starkweather consists of patterns on the glass deck and elevators of the Union Square headhouse superimposed on a topographical map, illustrating commute patterns in the Bay Area.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ Cano, Ricardo (March 16, 2023). "S.F.'s Central Subway saw declines in ridership during its first two months of service, data show". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "SFMTA Announces Opening Schedule of the Central Subway Project" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Central Subway Opens November 19 with Special Weekend Service" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. November 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Union Square/Market Street" (PDF) (Fact Sheet). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). October 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  5. ^ Walker, Wilson (February 26, 2017). "San Francisco's Big Dig Ahead Of Schedule". CBS. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  6. ^ Cabanatuan, Michael (July 14, 2017). "Chinatown frustration rises with delay in SF subway construction". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  7. ^ Pierce, Phillip (February 19, 2019). "Lower Stockton Street to Reopen to Traffic and Transit" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority.
  8. ^ "The 30 & 45 Return to Lower Stockton and 4th Streets: April 13, 2019" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority. April 13, 2019.
  9. ^ King, John (January 14, 2023). "S.F.'s Central Subway isn't just a transit line. It's a startling view of a city in flux". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Central Subway Public Art Program". San Francisco Arts Commission.
  11. ^ Lovvorn, Jennifer (May 11, 2012). "Central Subway Union Square Station: Glass elevator enclosure and deck detailed public art project outline" (PDF). San Francisco Arts Commission. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "Panel Summary: Artist selection panel -- meeting 2" (PDF). San Francisco Arts Commission. April 3, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
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  Media related to Union Square/Market Street station at Wikimedia Commons