San Francisco braces for APEC impact: Muni service disruptions and tight security as world leaders descend
San Francisco Muni riders in the downtown area will be impacted by the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next month, federal and local officials announced Wednesday.
Impacts to Muni service will include a partial closure of the Central Subway and over a dozen bus lines will be rerouted near and around Moscone Center where the summit will take place. The City is expecting 30,000 visitors to attend the event from Nov. 15 to 18, including world leaders from 21 countries and 1,200 CEOS from around the world
Security will be tight in the area around Moscone Center as the event will be designated as a National Special Security Event due to the size of the event and the attendees of the event which include President Joe Biden and other world leaders.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said two Central Subway stations — Yerba Buena/Moscone and Fourth and Brannan — will not be open for service during the event. On the transit agency’s website, they wrote that they will run a shuttle train every five minutes from Union Square Station to Chinatown-Rose Pak station to maintain access to Chinatown and the area north of Market Street.
Riders can access the Union Square station by transferring at Powell station.
There will be rerouted bus lines, including the 1 California, 8 Bayshore (including express 8 routes), 12 Folsom, 14 Mission (including rapid route), 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express, 30 Stockton and 45 Union Stockton. The 5 Fulton (Owl service) and 91 Owl service will also be impacted by APEC. The SFMTA has not yet listed how buses will be rerouted on its website.
Since the T Third will not be running on its Central Subway route, the SFMTA will temporarily bring back the former rail line by combining the K-Ingleside and T again forming the K/T rail line. The K/T service is expected to run from Nov. 15 to 18, according to the transit agency’s website.
Cable car routes will also be impacted by APEC, including a security zone around Nob Hill. The California Cable Car line will be suspended during the summit and service will be substituted by buses. The SFMTA said the Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason cable car lines will be cut short and will not travel south of Washington and Powell streets. Buses will provide service on Powell Street from Jackson and Ellis streets.
Motorists can expect traffic detours in the South of Market and Nob Hill areas through the duration of the summit, transit officials said.
The SFMTA has posted more information about how APEC will affect transit and traffic on its website at www.sfmta.com/APEC.
