Editing Third Street Light Rail Project (section)

==Further expansion==
{{main|Central Subway (San Francisco)}}
The Third Street Light Rail Project is the first part of a multi-phase plan to expand the Muni Metro system. The second phase, known as the [[Central Subway (San Francisco)|Central Subway]], removed the need for the T Third to share tracks with [[N Judah]] north of 4th and King. T Third was routed to new tracks extending north from the [[San Francisco 4th and King Street station|Caltrain depot at 4th and King]] above ground to a new station at [[4th and Brannan station|4th and Brannan]], then proceeds underground with intermediate stops at the new stations [[Yerba Buena/Moscone station]] and [[Union Square/Market Street station]] before terminating at [[Chinatown station (Muni Metro)|Chinatown station]] at Stockton and Washington Streets. In addition, the second phase includes [[short turn]] service via the new [[Mission Bay Loop]], which was completed in 2019<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.potreroview.net/efforts-continue-to-improve-mission-bay-mobility-in-the-face-of-new-demands/ |title=Efforts Continue to Improve Mission Bay Mobility in the Face of New Demands |author=Cohen, Bettina |date=September 2019 |work=The Potrero View |access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref> at a cost of $10.2 million. This improves service to [[Chase Center (arena)|Chase Center]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Joe Fitzgerald |title=Cost for long delayed Muni 'loop' to boost Warriors train service jumps $1.4 million |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/long-delayed-muni-loop-boost-warriors-train-service-jumps-1-4-million/ |access-date=24 July 2018 |agency=The Examiner |date=23 July 2018}}</ref> T Third trains began through-running into the Central Subway on January 7, 2023.

In early March 2009, media and community groups proposed that as the [[Central Subway (San Francisco)|Central Subway]] is being built, plans should be drawn up to extend the T Third past Chinatown through [[North Beach, San Francisco|North Beach]] and [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California|Fisherman's Wharf]] neighborhoods, passing [[Pier 39]], potentially using an old steam railroad line underneath [[Fort Mason]] and ending up at [[Presidio of San Francisco|The Presidio]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Extending-S-F-s-Central-Subway-would-draw-5920673.php |title=Extending S.F.'s Central Subway would draw riders, study says |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=26 November 2014 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=10 March 2017}}</ref> These plans were presented in October 2014 as a third phase (northern extension to Fisherman's Wharf) and a conceptual fourth phase (extension west to the Presidio).<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/agendaitems/2014/12-2-14%20Item%2015%20T-Third%20Phase%203%20Concept%20Study.pdf |title=T-Third – Phase 3 Concept Study |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=October 2014 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Sustainable Streets Division |access-date=10 March 2017}}</ref> Formal planning for a Central Subway extension was kicked off in late 2018 with several community meetings, and an Alternatives Study is underway with a projected completion in late 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/marina-district-may-board-central-subway-extension/|title=Marina District may be on board for Central Subway extension|last=Rodriguez|first=Joe Fitzgerald|work=San Francisco Examiner|date=December 8, 2018|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2018/10/central_subway_extension_kickoff_presentation_boards.pdf|title=Central Subway Extension Alternatives Study|date=September 27, 2018|access-date=December 10, 2018|publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency}}</ref>