M Ocean View

File:Southbound train and Ocean Avenue northbound platform, December 2017-001.JPG

The line runs from Embarcadero station in the Financial District to Geneva Avenue and San Jose Avenue near City College of San Francisco in the Balboa Park neighborhood. The downtown portion of the line runs through the Market Street subway, which it shares with three other Muni Metro lines. It continues through the much older Twin Peaks Tunnel, emerging at West Portal Station. From there, it follows West Portal Avenue to the Saint Francis Circle, where it then takes its own right-of-way to 19th Avenue. The portion of the line on 19th Avenue between where it joins 19th near Eucalyptus Drive and Junipero Serra Boulevard is a right-of-way separated from the street. This section has two stations with high-platforms, one at the Stonestown Galleria on Winston Drive and the other at San Francisco State University on Holloway Avenue. It continues on 19th Avenue past Junipero Serra to Randolph Street. At the end of Randolph, the M uses Orizaba Avenue to get to Broad Street and takes that to San Jose Avenue. The rest of the line follows San Jose Avenue to Geneva Avenue, where the line loops around the Metro yard there on the corner opposite from Balboa Park Station.

The M Ocean View begins service at 5 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. Sundays, with the end of service occurring around 12:30 a.m. each night. Daytime headways are 10 to 12 minutes.

Service on most of the route is provided by overnight Owl buses during the hours that rail service is not running. The {{Muni route|L Owl}} serves the portion between Embarcadero and West Portal, and the {{Muni route|91 Owl}} serves the portion between West Portal and SF State. On weekends, the M Ocean View Bus service runs from 5 a.m. until the start of rail service. The bus line largely follows the rail line, but it uses surface streets to parallel sections where the rail line has dedicated rights-of-way.{{cite press release|url=https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/permanent-muni-service-changes-starting-saturday-february-22-2020|title=Permanent Muni Service Changes Starting Saturday, February 22, 2020|date=February 22, 2020|publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}}

The M Ocean View line began operation on October 6, 1925, as a shuttle service from St. Francis Circle to the wye at Broad and Plymouth in the city's Ocean View District.{{cite book |title=San Francisco's Century of Street Cars |first=Fred A. |last=Stindt |page=195 |date=October 1990 |publisher=F.A. Stindt |isbn=0-9615465-1-4}} It was extended through the Twin Peaks Tunnel to the downtown Ferry Building on October 31, 1927, but reverted to a shuttle service on February 27, 1928. The shuttle service was replaced by buses on August 6, 1939, but streetcar service returned on the full length of the line on December 17, 1944. On June 6, 1948, the Transbay Terminal became the inner terminus of the line.

File:Muni 1167 on diversion route at Church and Duboce.jpg on a diversion route during construction of the Market Street subway. Photo taken between 1972 and 1982]]

While many streetcar lines were permanently converted to buses after World War II, the M Ocean View remained a streetcar line due to its use of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. Service was diverted to Duboce Avenue, Church Street, and 17th Street on December 2, 1972, due to construction of the Market Street subway.{{Muni Chronology}} On August 30, 1980, the line was extended to Balboa Park BART station.{{cite book |last1=McKane |first1=John |last2=Perles |first2=Anthony |title=Inside Muni: The Properties and Operations of the Municipal Railway of San Francisco |year=1982 |publisher=Interurban Press |location=Glendale, CA (US) |page=198 |isbn=0-916374-49-1}} The full line was partially converted to modern light-rail operation with the opening of the Muni Metro system on December 17, 1980. Eureka Valley in the Twin Peaks Tunnel was originally a stop in regular service, but the station was closed in 1972 and replaced, ten years later, by Castro Street Station when the Market Street subway system opened.

In the early 1970s, Muni began planning an extension of the J Church line over new track to Balboa Park station, then over the M Ocean View line to the high-ridership San Francisco State University station and Stonestown Galleria station. A Final Environmental Impact Statement for the new track was released in 1983; it was opened for non-revenue moves in August 1991 and began revenue service in June 1993.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/j-church-extension-feir |title=Muni J Line Connection Project Final Environmental Impact Statement |date=May 1983 |publisher=Urban Mass Transit Administration and San Francisco Department of City Planning |via=Internet Archive}}{{Muni Chronology|pages=76–79}} Original plans called for the two existing stations to be rebuilt with high-level platforms, and a pocket track to allow J Church trains to turn back. After objections from neighbors, the pocket track was removed from the plan.

The first phase of the 19th Ave. Platform & Trackway Improvement Project required the line to be replaced by buses south of St. Francis Circle from June 19 to October 23, 1993; the new platforms at the two stations were opened when service was restored, though several minor stops along 19th Avenue were left permanently closed. The second phase required full bustitution beginning on July 30, 1994; rail service was restored to Stonestown on November 19 for holiday shopping, and on the rest of the line on January 28, 1995. Some weekday J and M service was through-routed beginning on March 27, 1995; this lasted until a rail replacement project on the M in February 1998. Full combined J/M service was planned upon completion of the automated train control system and the Muni Metro Turnback; however, this was never implemented even after the construction projects were finished.

In 2010, Muni replaced the rail junction just south of St. Francis Circle station. Rail service south of West Portal station was replaced with buses from May 17 to September 4.{{cite press release |url=http://archives.sfmta.com/cms/apress/SFMTAAnnouncesDetailsofSt.FrancisCircleProjecttoBegininMay.htm |title=SFMTA Announces Details of St. Francis Circle Project to Begin in May |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |date=April 29, 2010}}{{cite press release |url=http://archives.sfmta.com/cms/apress/SFMTAPreparestoRestore61PercentofMuniMay8ServiceCutsandCompletesSt.FrancisCircleProject.htm |title=SFMTA Prepares to Restore 61 Percent of Muni May 8 Service Cuts and Completes St. Francis Circle Project |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |date=September 2, 2010}} The line was temporarily replaced by buses from June 25 to August 24, 2018 due to the Twin Peaks Tunnel shutdown.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfmta.com/projects/twin-peaks-tunnel-improvements-0 |title=Twin Peaks Tunnel Improvements |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |date=June 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626232234/https://www.sfmta.com/projects/twin-peaks-tunnel-improvements-0 |archive-date=June 26, 2018}} During that time, a new traffic signal with transit signal priority was installed where the line crosses the northbound lanes of 19th Avenue at Rossmoor Drive, and red transit-only lanes were painted to indicate that drivers must not block the crossing.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfmta.com/projects/m-ocean-view-improvements-rossmoor-drive-and-junipero-serra |title=M Ocean View Improvements (Rossmoor Drive and Junipero Serra) |date=24 July 2017 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}}

On March 30, 2020, M Ocean View light-rail service was replaced with buses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite press release|url=https://www.sfmta.com/blog/starting-march-30-new-muni-service-changes|title=Starting March 30: New Muni Service Changes|date=March 26, 2020|first=Amy|last=Fowler|publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}} Light-rail service on the M resumed on August 22, 2020, with the routes reconfigured to improve reliability in the subway. M Ocean View and T Third Street service were interlined, running between Sunnydale station and San Jose and Geneva (Balboa Park station).{{cite press release |url=https://www.sfmta.com/blog/major-muni-service-expansion-august-22 |title=Major Muni Service Expansion August 22 |date=August 18, 2020 |first=Mariana |last=Maguire |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}} M Light-rail service was re-replaced by the M Bus on August 25 due to issues with malfunctioning overhead wire splices and the need to quarantine control center staff after a COVID-19 case.{{cite press release |url=https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/bus-substitution-all-rail-lines |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Bus Substitution for All Rail Lines |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}} M rail service resumed on August 14, 2021, with the line terminating at Embarcadero again.{{cite press release |url=https://www.sfmta.com/blog/welcoming-back-m-ocean-view-and-31-balboa |title=Welcoming Back the M Ocean View and 31 Balboa |date=July 15, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}}

The M Ocean View moves at only {{convert|8.5|to|9.5|mph}} during afternoon commute hours over a {{convert|2|mi|adj=on}} distance along 19th Avenue/Highway 1. The slow speed is attributed to trains stopping at multiple busy street crossings.{{cite report |url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/projects/19thAve_final_report.pdf |title=19th Avenue Transit Study |publisher=San Francisco County Transportation Authority |date=March 2014 |access-date=22 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402061046/http://sfmta.com/sites/default/files/projects/19thAve_final_report.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live}} In addition, the majority of riders access 19th Avenue stops from the west side of 19th, since Stonestown Galleria, San Francisco State University and Parkmerced are all located west of 19th. In order to access the stops, which are located in the median of 19th Avenue, pedestrians cross three lanes of traffic and a turn lane. In San Francisco, 55% of severe and fatal pedestrian accidents occur on 7% of its street miles, which includes the 19th Avenue/Highway 1 corridor.{{cite report |url=http://www.sf-planning.org/ftp/files/Citywide/WalkFirst/WalkFirst_Final_Document_102711.pdf |title=WalkFirst: Improving Safety & Walking Conditions in San Francisco |date=October 2011 |publisher=San Francisco Department of Public Health |access-date=22 March 2016 |quote=4.3 High-injury-density corridors – The identified corridors shown in blue in Map 3 represent 6.7% of San Francisco's street miles, and include 55% of all severe and fatal injuries and 51% of total pedestrian injuries in the five-year period.}} In response, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority published studies in 2010{{cite report |url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/projects/19th_Ave_Corridor_Study.pdf |title=19th Avenue Corridor Study |publisher=City and County of San Francisco |date=February 12, 2010 |access-date=25 September 2019}} and 2014 which explored options to facilitate pedestrian access and improve travel times.

The full-subway option was chosen for further development and named the Muni Subway Expansion Project (MSXP).{{cite web |url=https://www.sfmta.com/projects/muni-subway-expansion-project |title=Muni Subway Expansion Project |date=5 June 2014 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=25 September 2019}} Under the preliminary concept for MSXP, the rail line would remain underground past West Portal station. K Ingleside would branch off from the underground line and surface on Junipero Serra Boulevard just south of Saint Francis Circle. M Ocean View will remain underground along the current right of way under West Portal Avenue and 19th Avenue, branching off at Holloway to Parkmerced. The underground line would continue with J Church service along 19th until surfacing just east of the intersection of 19th and Junipero Serra, then continuing on to Balboa Park via Randolph, Broad, and San Jose.{{cite report |url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/projects/2016/Station%202%20Rail.pdf |title=19th Avenue/M Ocean View Project: Subway Station Entrances {{!}} New, Upgraded & Removed Stations |date=February 2016 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=25 September 2019}}

The current West Portal station would most likely have to be redesigned as a two-level station with the K/M lines on the lower level and the L line on the upper level. New underground stations would be constructed at Saint Francis Circle (K/M lines), Winston Drive (M, serving Stonestown), Holloway (J/M, serving SF State), and Parkmerced (M). A potential infill station could be constructed at Ocean Avenue in Lakeside Village. Several existing surface stations would be removed; in most cases, they would be replaced by underground stations. The proposed full subway line would continue past Parkmerced with a long tail track; that tail track could be extended in the future to connect to the Daly City BART station via the M line. The total cost of the full subway line project was estimated at approximately $3 billion.{{Cite web |last=Mojadad |first=Ida |title=City proposes Muni M-line to run under Parkmerced, extend to Daly City BART |url=https://goldengatexpress.org/49147/latest/news/city-proposes-muni-m-line/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Golden Gate Xpress}}

In 2022, the SFMTA begin planning the M Ocean View Transit and Safety Project, a MuniForward project intended to improve reliability of the segment between Junipero Serra Boulevard and Balboa Park station. Initial proposals released that September included transit lanes and platform lengthening on San Jose Avenue, consolidation of several closely spaced stops, and four new traffic signals.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2022/10/english_final_round_2_engagement_boards_1-4.pdf |title=M Ocean View Transit and Safety Project Engagement Boards |date=September 2022 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}} A revised proposal in May 2023 eliminated one stop consolidation and two traffic signals, but added modifications to the terminal at San Jose and Geneva.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2023/04/m_ocean_view_-_proposal_summary_-_english.pdf |title=M Ocean View Transit and Safety Project Proposed Improvements |date=May 2023 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}} {{As of|October 2023}}, "quick-build" implementation of some changes is expected to begin in late 2023, with main construction beginning in 2026.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfmta.com/projects/m-ocean-view-transit-and-safety-project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031193627/https://www.sfmta.com/projects/m-ocean-view-transit-and-safety-project |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |title=M Ocean View Transit and Safety Project |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}}

In May 2024, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the SFMTA $4.7 million to construct accessible platforms at eight Muni Metro stops, including three M Ocean View stops.{{cite web |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/grant-programs/all-stations-accessibility-program-fy24-projects |title=All Stations Accessibility Program FY24 Projects |date=May 28, 2024 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration}}{{cite press release |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/news/biden-harris-administration-announces-343-million-modernize-transit-stations-improve |title=Biden-Harris Administration Announces $343 Million to Modernize Transit Stations, Improve Accessibility Across the Country |date=May 28, 2024 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration}}

The M Ocean View line stops at large stations for the downtown section of the route and on 19th Avenue and at smaller stops on the rest of the line. Most of the smaller stops are nothing more than a sign on the side of the street designating a stop and a few others are concrete 'islands' in the middle of the street next to the tracks that provide access for wheelchairs. Muni bus routes provide service to all stations and other systems with access to the stations are noted.

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• [https://www.sfmta.com/routes/m-ocean-view SFMTA – M Ocean View]
• [https://www.sfmta.com/projects/m-ocean-view-transit-and-safety-project M Ocean View Transit and Safety Project]

{{Muni}}

Category:Muni Metro lines

Category:1925 establishments in California