The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency set to work today on a yearlong construction project in the Richmond District that will repair and upgrade substations that power Muni’s overhead trolley bus lines.
Construction crews need to rehabilitate a critical substation in the Inner Richmond. First, the MTA must spend the next seven weeks rerouting power lines connected to the substation on Eighth Avenue by drawing power from a substation almost 30 blocks away.
Initial phases of work taking place on the Balboa Substation on 32nd Avenue will provide a substitute source of power after crews construct a new electrical duct bank.
In the long term, the MTA says the construction efforts will reduce maintenance costs, increase reliability and pave the way for future growth. But in the short term, residents and customers may be affected by construction along 32nd Avenue.
Certain stops for the 38-Geary line will be relocated during construction. The MTA advises customers to watch for advance notices announcing these changes in service.
Parking along the length of active construction between Balboa Street and Clement Street will be temporarily restricted, so drivers in the neighborhood should look out for posted restrictions.
Officially termed as the Muni Substation Upgrade Project, the work over the next year will make equipment and physical improvements at four substations around the City.
MTA Executive Director Nathaniel Ford said in a prepared statement that “the SFMTA will continue to aggressively prioritize keeping Muni in a state of good repair” during this time of budget shortfalls and service cuts.
“San Francisco’s infrastructure is at the core of our quality of life.”
Work will be conducted in three phases. During the first phase, from today to April 18, crews will construct an electrical duct bank on 32nd Avenue from Balboa Street past Anza Street.
The second phase, from April 19 to May 7, will allow crews to continue work past Anza Street to Clement Street.
During the third phase, from May 3 to May 21, crews will install the electrical cables in the duct banks along the entire stretch, from Balboa to Clement streets.
