Pelosi Announces Department of Transportation Funding for Central Subway

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today a Department of Transportation grant of $11.76 million for Phase 2 of the Third Street-Central Subway Project:

"This grant is a significant victory for San Francisco. Funding will be used to design a subway system to connect San Francisco's civic, business and cultural centers with diverse communities in the Southeastern neighborhoods of the city. This project will improve service reliability and reduce travel times for tens of thousands of commuters and visitors daily.

"The Central Subway will provide the only north-south rail connection through the heart San Francisco's business, tourist and shopping areas. It will also deliver commuters to regional transit systems, Caltrain and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and facilitate transportation throughout the entire Bay Area.

"I have long supported the Third Street-Central Subway Project and have secured more than $40 million dollars in federal funding to assist with this critical work. However, much more must be done to ensure fast and convenient transit throughout San Francisco. I will continue to work with city, state and federal officials and agencies to provide the resources to meet the San Francisco's transportation needs."

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Background:

The Third Street-Central Subway project is being constructed in two phases. Phase 1, a surface light rail line on Third Street with 18 stops, opened for full revenue service April 2007, and is funded almost exclusively with state and local funds sources. Phase 2, the Central Subway, will extend this light rail line through San Francisco's booming South of Market area and the downtown-Union Square shopping district into the heart of city's Chinatown. Once completed, the Central Subway is projected to carry more than 78,000 riders per day.