http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 5BGI13.DTL
04-09) 12:07 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Weekday service for San Francisco's new T-Third streetcar line got rolling today and the inaugural rides hit a few bumps.
There was an electrical problem early this morning that briefly grounded a train at the southern terminus in Visitacion Valley, a missed run that meant people had to wait longer between trains, and switching delays near 4th and King streets. All contributed to the problems that made for a less-than-perfect morning commute.
Service over the weekend was even rockier, with long delays and missed runs.
"I'd love to say everything was going like clockwork,'' said Maggie Lynch, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. But, she said, considering that the line is new, service has been running pretty well. "We're doing our best and we will get better.''
The 5.1-mile T-Third line runs from Bayshore Boulevard and Sunnydale Avenue in Visitacion Valley, then down Third Street through Hunters Point, Bayview, Potrero Hill and Mission Bay. It crosses the 4th Street bridge into the South of Market, runs along the Embarcadero past the ballpark and then heads into the Market Street subway tunnel where it connects with the rest of the Metro system.
Limited weekend service began in January and today marks the first weekday runs, putting more pressure on Muni to deliver now that people are relying on the T-Third to get them to and from work. Muni retired the 15-Third diesel bus route, which the T-Third replaced, over the weekend.
Amy Li, a 36-year-old clerk heading to work on the T-Third this morning, said she's hopeful the glitches will be worked out and the streetcar line will provide a commute that's more reliable than the bus she used to take.
"So far so good,'' she said two blocks after she settled in for the ride.
The run that began 8:15 a.m. at the Sunnydale stop near the Daly City border arrived at the Embarcadero Station in the Market Street tunnel 43 minutes later -- a bit slower than promised. The return trip from the Embarcadero Station to Visitacion Valley took 51 minutes, and that included an 18-minute delay near 4th and King streets because trains got backed up.
George Compton, who was heading toward Market Street, gave his first T-Third ride high marks.
"It's better than riding the bus -- less crowded,'' said Compton, a 47-year-old trucker.
hint.
