Editing Embarcadero station (section)

== History ==
[[File:Train of Boeing LRVs waiting to depart Muni Metro's Embarcadero station in 1993.jpg|thumb|left|A Muni Metro train at Embarcadero in 1993]]
The BART Board approved the name "Embarcadero" in December 1965. At that time, it was only planned to be used for Muni Metro.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune/144328970/ |title=Names Approved for 38 Rapid Transit Stations Around Bay |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |date=December 10, 1965 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> BART service at the station began on May 27, 1976, three years after the other San Francisco stations.<ref name="history">{{BART History}}</ref> As a result of increasing development in the lower Market Street area, the basic structure of the station was added into the construction of the Market Street subway, anticipating a later opening.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A History of BART: The Project is Rescued |url=http://www.bart.gov/about/history/history3 |access-date=November 30, 2013 |publisher=Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)}}</ref> This resulted in the Embarcadero station having a different design than the other three Market Street stations. The station was designed by chief BART architect Tallie Maule and Hertzka & Knowles & Associates in collaboration with [[Parsons Brinckerhoff]], Tudor Construction, and [[Bechtel]].<ref name="Cerny 2007">{{Cite book |last=Cerny |first=Susan Dinkelspiel |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85623396 |title=An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area |publisher=Gibbs Smith |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-58685-432-4 |edition=1st |location=Layton, UT |page=502 |language=en-US |oclc=85623396}}</ref> The station cost $30 million to construct.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kusserow |first=H. W. |date=May 28, 1976 |title=It's freeloading time on BART |page=3 |work=[[San Francisco Examiner]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23457489/embarcadero_station_opens/ |access-date=September 4, 2018 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{free access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Jewell |first=Don |date=June 1976 |title=Bay Area Rapid Transit |url=http://magazine.trainlife.com/pne_1976_6/ |magazine=[[Pacific RailNews|Pacific News]] |issue=176 |page=26}}</ref>

Muni Metro service began in February 1980 and Embarcadero was originally intended to be the inbound terminus for all of the Muni Metro lines.<ref name="chronology" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hatfield |first=Larry D. |date=February 18, 1980 |title=All clear as Muni Metro opens |page=6 |work=San Francisco Examiner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23457527/muni_metro_opens/ |access-date=September 4, 2018 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> In 1998 a new southward extension was opened, extending the [[N Judah]] along the Embarcadero to the [[Caltrain]] [[San Francisco 4th and King Street station|station at 4th and King Streets]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 1, 1998 |title=Muni metro extends |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/muni-metro-extends/31365.article |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en}}</ref> On March 4, 2000, [[F Market & Wharves]] streetcar service was extended northward to [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco|Fisherman's Wharf]], with new stops above Embarcadero station at Main Street (inbound) and Drumm Street (outbound).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=J. D. |date=March 2, 2000 |title=New Way to the Wharf / Merchants hope F-Market line will draw locals to tourist attractions |agency=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/New-Way-to-the-Wharf-Merchants-hope-F-Market-3304845.php}}</ref> Because the station is adjacent to the Transbay Tube, [[brake dust]] and other particles from train operations coat the walls of the station. A sandblasting in 2014 revealed the original white [[terrazzo]] platform walls under the dark grime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Allen-Price |first=Olivia |date=July 22, 2014 |title=Embarcadero BART Station Gets Dramatic Cleaning |work=KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/142502/embarcadero-bart-station-gets-dramatic-cleaning}}</ref>

Since before 1992, the station was serenaded by Ronald Brewington, known as the "Jazz Man".<ref name="jazz">{{Cite news |last=Huet |first=Ellen |date=November 2, 2012 |title=S.F. BART saxophonist is fugitive killer, cops say |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |url=http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/S-F-BART-saxophonist-is-fugitive-killer-cops-say-3254890.php}}</ref> He would play saxophone for commuters, and entertain them with conversation and charm.<ref name="jazz" /> He claimed his name was Garrick Sherrod; however, that was an [[identity theft|identity he had stolen]].<ref name="jazz" /> The Jazz Man was actually a fugitive from [[Albuquerque]] facing [[capital murder]] charges stemming from the 1987 death of his wife Diedre.<ref name="jazz" /> He was arrested at a BART station in 2012, and [[extradition|extradited]] to [[New Mexico]].<ref name="jazz" /> In 2013, he pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huet |first=Ellen |date=July 23, 2013 |title=Killer who became S.F. 'Jazz Man' convicted |url=https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/killer-who-became-s-f-jazz-man-convicted-4680384.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724035542/http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Killer-who-became-S-F-Jazz-Man-convicted-4680384.php |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |work=[[SFGate]] |publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Following the 2015 addition of a canopy over an escalator at [[19th Street Oakland station]], which reduced escalator downtime by one-third, BART decided to add canopies to all downtown Oakland and San Francisco entrances.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Ribbon-cutting held for San Francisco BART Station Market St. Canopies |date=November 13, 2018 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2018/news20181109}}</ref> Construction of the Market Street entrances was to begin in 2020, with completion in 2027.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=BART to build canopies over San Francisco Market Street entrances |date=January 23, 2020 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2020/news20200123-0}}</ref> The entrances on the southern side of the station were closed from April 13, 2020, to May 15, 2021, due to low ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=BART opens all entrances/exits that were previously closed due to pandemic |date=June 12, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2020/news20200410}}</ref> Concourse-level preparation for canopy construction at Embarcadero station began on November 15, 2021.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Concourse and platform work at Embarcadero Station starts 11/15 to prepare for canopy installation |date=November 8, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2021/news20211104-0}}</ref> The entrance at Davis Street was closed for canopy construction from June 13, 2022 until October 2023, followed by the Beale Street entrance from September 5, 2023, to March 2024.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Entrance Closure Alert: Embarcadero Station entrance at Davis and Market closed 06/13/22 for work on new canopy |date=June 7, 2022 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2022/news20220607}}</ref><ref name=fedclosed /><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2023/news20230831 |title=Entrance Closure Alert: Market and Beale streets entrance at Embarcadero Station to close 9/5 for canopy work |date=August 31, 2023 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2024/news20240318 |title=New canopy protects entrance at Embarcadero Station |date=March 18, 2024 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref> The Federal Reserve Bank entrance was closed for construction on October 18, 2023; the Pine Street entrance closed on March 14, 2024.<ref name=fedclosed>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2023/news20231004-0 |title=Entrance Closure Alert: Embarcadero Station entrance in front of Federal Reserve to close for canopy work 10/18 |date=October 4, 2023 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2024/news20240307 |title=Entrance Closure Alert: Embarcadero Station entrance at Market and Pine to close March 14 |date=March 7, 2024 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref> A canopy at the Drumm Street entrance opened in January 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2025/news20250203 |title=New escalator and canopy open at downtown SF stations |date=February 3, 2025 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref>

Thirteen BART stations, including Embarcadero, did not originally have faregates for passengers using the elevator. In 2020, BART started a project to add faregates to elevators at these stations. The new faregate on the platform at Embarcadero was installed in December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Fare Gates & Station Hardening |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904224616/https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/fare-gate |archive-date=September 4, 2023 |date=July 2023}}</ref> This allows passengers using the elevator to enter and exit fare control through the faregate, rather than having to use a "difficult and cumbersome" process of tagging in or out at the concourse faregates.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=New Embarcadero platform fare gate speeds up transfer to Muni, improves accessibility, reduces fare evasion |date=February 9, 2022 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2022/news20220209-0}}</ref> Bathrooms at underground BART stations were closed after the September 11 attacks due to security concerns. The bathroom at Embarcadero station reopened on June 30, 2023, after a renovation, with an attendant on duty during all operating hours.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2023/news20230630 |title=BART reopens restrooms at Embarcadero and Downtown Berkeley stations |date=June 30, 2023 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref>

=== Artwork ===
[[File:Wall Canyon from BART platform, September 2019.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.75|The bottom part of ''Wall Canyon'']]
Although original plans to include [[public art]] at every BART station did not come to fruition, several artworks were included in Embarcadero station.<ref name="bartart">{{Cite magazine |last=Weinstein |first=Dave |title=How BART got ART |url=https://www.eichlernetwork.com/article/how-bart-got-art |magazine=CA-Modern |publisher=Eichler Network}}</ref>{{rp|1}} The platform walls and street entrances feature circle-based [[relief]]s by [[William Mitchell (sculptor)|William Mitchell]].<ref name="bartart" />{{rp|3, 6}} ''Wall Canyon'', a {{convert|37|feet|adj=on}}-high colored ceramic relief by [[Stephen De Staebler]], is partially hidden behind a staircase at the southwest end of the station.<ref name="bartable" /><ref name="bartart" />{{rp|2}} It was installed on January 1, 1977.<ref name="bartable">{{Cite web |last=Kieselhorst |first=Felicia |title=BART Art: "Wall Canyon" |url=https://bartable.bart.gov/featured/bart-art-wall-canyon |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref> A [[duotone]] granite portrait of Tallie Maule – the chief architect of the original BART system – is on the mezzanine level.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kieselhorst |first=Felicia |title=BARTable Art: "Tallie Maule Portrait" |url=https://bartable.bart.gov/featured/bartable-art-tallie-maule-portrait |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District}}</ref><ref name="bartart" />{{rp|6}}

A {{convert|50|feet|adj=on}}-tall, {{convert|7000|lb|adj=on}} rope sculpture called ''Legs'' was installed at the northwest end of the station in 1976 or 1978. Created by Barbara Shawcroft, the orange-and-white [[Nomex]] sculpture moved with the breeze from passing Muni and BART trains.<ref name="huge">{{Cite news |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=June 10, 2014 |title=Huge rope sculpture to be removed from Embarcadero BART |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Huge-rope-sculpture-to-be-removed-from-5539754.php}}</ref> ''Legs'' soon accumulated the same dark grime as the station walls, hiding the original color. BART was required by the artist's contract to clean the sculpture but several attempts were unsuccessful.<ref name="huge" /> In 2013, BART included removal of ''Legs'' in its 2014 budget, which prompted a debate about whether it should be cleaned regardless of cost (which Shawcroft supported), or removed from the unsuitable environment of the station.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frock |first=Christian L. |date=May 27, 2013 |title=On Permanence: Barbara Shawcroft's 'Legs' and the Challenges of Public Art |work=KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/121315/on_permanence_barbara_shawcrofts_legs_and_the_challenges_of}}</ref> The sculpture was removed in June 2014 and returned to Shawcroft – a [[professor emerita]] at [[UC Davis]] School of Design – who planned to repurpose it into other pieces.<ref name="huge" />
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