Castro station

Muni Metro station in the Castro district of San Francisco, California

For the former station in Mountain View, see Castro station (Caltrain).

Castro

Inbound train at Castro station in August 2013

General information
Location| Market Street at Castro Street and 17th Street
San Francisco, California
Coordinates| 37°45′45″N 122°26′08″W﻿ / ﻿37.76252°N 122.43553°W﻿ / 37.76252; -122.43553
Owned by| San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Line(s)| Market Street subway
Platforms| 2 high level side platforms (Muni Metro)
1 low level side platform (Muni surface)
Tracks| 2 (Muni Metro)
2 (Muni surface)
Connections|  Muni: 24, 33, 35, 37
Construction
Structure type| Underground
Accessible| Yes
Architect| Reid & Tarics Associates[1]
History
Opened| June 11, 1980[2]
Services
| Preceding station  |  Muni | Following station

|
|

Forest Hill

toward Balboa Park

|  | K Ingleside |  | Church

toward Embarcadero

Forest Hill

toward SF Zoo

|  | L Taraval |
Forest Hill

toward San Jose and Geneva (Balboa Park)

|  | M Ocean View |
Forest Hill

toward West Portal

|  | S Shuttle |
Surface stop at 17th and Castro
Terminus |  | F Market & Wharves |  | Market and Noe

toward Jones and Beach

Location

Castro station is a Muni Metro station at the intersection of Market Street, Castro Street, and 17th Street in the Castro District of San Francisco, California. The underground station is served by the K Ingleside, M Ocean View, L Taraval and S Shuttle lines. The F Market line serves the station on the street level at 17th and Castro.

## Station layout and history

[edit]

F-Market streetcar on the surface at 17th and Castro in 1999

The station consists of two side platforms next to the tracks on the second level down with the concourse mezzanine level overlooking it. Uniquely among Muni Metro stations, the platforms are slightly curved due to the transition from the Market Street subway to the Twin Peaks Tunnel between this station and the now-disused Eureka Valley station, just southwest. At both Castro and Church, there is only one entrance on each side of Market Street leading into the station. (All other stations on the Market Street subway have entrances spread out along the length of the station.) The southern entrance is located in Harvey Milk Plaza on the southwest corner of Market and Castro, and the northern entrance and street elevator on the northwest corner of Market and 17th.

The station was constructed by BART as part of the Market Street subway. The BART Board approved the name "Castro" in December 1965.[3] It was designed by Howard Grant AIA of Reid & Tarics Associates and was completed in 1976. Service at the station began on June 11, 1980.

Castro station features a transit plaza at the corner of Castro Street and Market Street. In 1985 it was dedicated to Harvey Milk, the slain SF supervisor and first openly gay elected official in California.[2][4] In May 2016, the escalator in Harvey Milk Plaza was retrofitted with colored lights (to resemble the rainbow flag that flies above the plaza) after being rehabilitated.[5] This test was considered a success; lights were added to 17 other escalators in the system, including the other three escalators at Castro, in 2018–19.[6][7]

Muni plans to construct accessibility improvements, including a second elevator, in Harvey Milk Plaza at the south entrance of the station.[8][9] A 2020 determination that the plaza is eligible for inclusion on the California Register of Historical Resources was not expected to impact elevator construction, but could stall the larger plaza project.[10] Elevator construction began in June 2023, with completion expected in 2026.[11]

In 2022, a new decorative railing was added on the F Market & Wharves boarding island as part of the Upper Market Street Safety Project. It features a quote from Harvey Milk's 1977 "You've Got to Have Hope" speech, as well as an illustration of streetcar #1051, which is dedicated in Milk's honor.[12][13][14]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cerny, Susan Dinkelspiel (2007). An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area (1st ed.). Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith. pp. 501–502\. ISBN 978-1-58685-432-4. OCLC 85623396.
2. ^ a b Callwell, Robert (September 1999). "Transit in San Francisco: A Selected Chronology, 1850–1995" (PDF). San Francisco Municipal Railway. p. 58.
3. ^ "Names Approved for 38 Rapid Transit Stations Around Bay". Oakland Tribune. December 10, 1965. p. 10 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ Bracco, Steven (January 10, 2020). "A History of Castro Station and Harvey Milk Plaza". Hoodline.
5. ^ Keeling, Brock (May 20, 2016). "Castro Unveils Rainbow Escalators In Time for Pride". Curbed San Francisco.
6. ^ "Color Lights Installation Coming to Muni Metro Escalators" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority. March 14, 2018.
7. ^ Phelan, Lori (October 29, 2019). "New Escalators Rising to the Challenge" (Press release). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority.
8. ^ "Castro Station Accessibility Improvements Project". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority. August 15, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
9. ^ Bracco, Steven (December 18, 2019). "Castro Muni station to get new elevator, as Harvey Milk Plaza redesign remains in limbo". Hoodline.
10. ^ Bajko, Matthew S. (July 15, 2020). "Harvey Milk plaza elevator project moves forward". Bay Area Reporter.
11. ^ Bracco, Steven (June 27, 2023). "Construction Begins on Long-Delayed Castro Muni Station Elevator Project". Hoodline. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
12. ^ "Upper Market Safety Project: Summer 2021 Construction Update" (PDF). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. June 2021.
13. ^ "Streetscape Plan" (PDF). San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. June 2021.
14. ^ Bajko, Matthew S. (October 19, 2022). "SF project adds Milk nod to Castro arterial". The Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved October 24, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Castro station at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Castro District, San Francisco

Buildings and
business|

* Alfred E. Clarke Mansion
* Badlands
* Castro Camera
* Castro Theatre
* Finnila's Finnish Baths
* Hartford Street Zen Center
* St. Francis Lutheran Church
* Toad Hall Bar

Culture|

* Castro clone
* Halloween in the Castro

Geography|

* Eureka Valley
* Harvey Milk Plaza
* Pink Triangle Park

Public art|

* California Volunteers

Transportation|

* Castro station
* Church and 16th Street station
* Church and 18th Street station
* F Market & Wharves
* S Shuttle
* Twin Peaks Tunnel

Related|

* José Castro
* Harvey Milk
* White Night riots

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

San Francisco Municipal Railway

Muni Metro|

* J Church
* K Ingleside
* L Taraval
* M Ocean View
* N Judah
* S Shuttle
* T Third Street

Muni Metro system features|

* Muni Metro stations
* Market Street subway
* Sunset Tunnel
* Twin Peaks Tunnel
* Mission Dolores Park

Heritage services|

* Cable cars
* Museum
* Streetcars
* E Embarcadero
* F Market & Wharves
* Market Street Railway (nonprofit)
* Museum
* Historic Trolley Festival

Other Muni services|

* Trolleybus system
* List of bus and rail lines
* List of defunct bus and rail lines
* Geary Bus Rapid Transit
* Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit

Projects|

| Completed|

* J to Balboa Park (1991)
* Muni Metro Extension (1998)
* F to Pier 39 (2000)
* Third Street Light Rail Project (2007)
* Central Subway (2022)
* L Taraval Improvement Project (2024)

|

Future|

* Fort Mason Tunnel
* Subway Expansion Project

Miscellaneous|

* Clipper card
* San Francisco Municipal Railway fleet
* San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
* Category for related articles

* v
* t
* e

Active and planned passenger rail stations in the San Francisco Bay Area

Passenger rail stations in Alameda County

| ACE|

* Fremont
* Livermore
* Pleasanton
* Vasco Road

|

Amtrak|

* Berkeley
* Oakland Coliseum
* Emeryville
* Fremont
* Hayward
* Oakland–Jack London Square

Planned
Ardenwood

BART|

* 12th Street Oakland City Center
* 19th Street Oakland
* Ashby
* Bay Fair
* Castro Valley
* Downtown Berkeley
* Dublin/​Pleasanton
* Fremont
* Fruitvale
* Hayward
* Lake Merritt
* MacArthur
* North Berkeley
* Coliseum
* Oakland International Airport
* Rockridge
* San Leandro
* South Hayward
* Union City
* Warm Springs/​South Fremont
* West Dublin/​Pleasanton
* West Oakland

Planned
Irvington (2031)

Valley Link|

Planned
Dublin/​Pleasanton
Isabel
Southfront Road

Passenger rail stations in Contra Costa County

| Amtrak|

* Antioch–Pittsburg
* Martinez
* Richmond

Under construction
Oakley (2025)

Proposed
Hercules

|

BART|

* Antioch
* Concord
* El Cerrito del Norte
* El Cerrito Plaza
* Lafayette
* North Concord/​Martinez
* Orinda
* Pittsburg/​Bay Point
* Pittsburg Center
* Pleasant Hill/​Contra Costa Centre
* Richmond
* Walnut Creek

Passenger rail stations in Marin County

| SMART|

* Larkspur Landing
* Marin Civic Center
* Novato Downtown
* Novato Hamilton
* Novato San Marin
* San Rafael

|

Passenger rail stations in San Mateo County

| BART|

* Colma
* Daly City
* Millbrae
* San Bruno
* San Francisco International Airport
* South San Francisco

|

Caltrain|

* Belmont
* Broadway
* Burlingame
* Hayward Park
* Hillsdale
* Menlo Park
* Millbrae
* Redwood City
* San Bruno
* San Carlos
* San Mateo
* South San Francisco

Passenger rail stations in Santa Clara County

| ACE &
Amtrak|

* Great America
* San Jose Diridon
* Santa Clara

|

BART|

* Berryessa/​North San José
* Milpitas

Planned
28th Street/​Little Portugal
Diridon
Downtown San José
Santa Clara

Caltrain|

* Blossom Hill
* California Avenue
* Capitol
* College Park
* Gilroy
* Lawrence
* Morgan Hill
* Mountain View
* Palo Alto
* San Antonio
* Morgan Hill
* San Jose Diridon
* Santa Clara
* Sunnyvale
* Tamien

VTA|

* Alder
* Alum Rock
* Bascom
* Baypointe
* Bayshore/NASA
* Berryessa
* Blossom Hill
* Bonaventura
* Borregas
* Branham
* Capitol
* Champion
* Children's Discovery Museum
* Cisco Way
* Civic Center
* Component
* Convention Center
* Cottle
* Cropley
* Crossman
* Curtner
* Downtown Campbell
* Downtown Mountain View
* Fair Oaks
* Fruitdale
* Gish
* Great America
* Great Mall
* Hamilton
* Hostetter
* Japantown/Ayer
* Karina
* Lick Mill
* Lockheed Martin
* McKee
* Metro/Airport
* Middlefield
* Milpitas
* Moffett Park
* Ohlone/​Chynoweth
* Old Ironsides
* Orchard
* Paseo de San Antonio
* Penitencia Creek
* Race
* Reamwood
* River Oaks
* Saint James
* Diridon
* San Fernando
* Santa Clara
* Santa Teresa
* Snell
* Tamien
* Tasman
* Vienna
* Virginia
* Whisman
* Winchester

Planned
Eastridge Transit Center
Story

Passenger rail stations in San Francisco

| BART|

* 16th Street Mission
* 24th Street Mission
* Balboa Park
* Civic Center/​UN Plaza
* Embarcadero
* Glen Park
* Montgomery Street
* Powell Street

|

Caltrain|

* 22nd Street
* San Francisco 4th and King Street

Proposed
Oakdale
Salesforce

Muni|

| Subway|

* Castro
* Chinatown
* Church
* Civic Center
* Embarcadero
* Forest Hill
* Montgomery
* Powell
* Union Square/​Market Street
* Van Ness
* West Portal
* Yerba Buena/​Moscone

|

Surface|

* 4th and Brannan
* 20th Street
* 23rd Street
* 2nd & King
* 4th & King
* Arleta
* Balboa Park
* Brannan
* Carroll
* Evans
* Folsom
* Gilman/Paul
* Hudson/Innes
* Kirkwood/La Salle
* Le Conte
* Marin Street
* Mariposa
* Mission Rock
* Oakdale/Palou
* Revere/Shafter
* San Francisco State University
* Stonestown
* Sunnydale
* UCSF/Chase Center
* Williams

Short
platform|

* 46th Avenue & Wawona
* Broad & Plymouth
* Carl & Cole
* Church & 18th Street
* Church & 24th Street
* Church & 29th Street
* Duboce & Church
* Duboce & Noe
* Irving & 2nd Avenue
* Judah & 9th Avenue
* Judah & 19th Avenue
* Judah & 28th Avenue
* Judah & La Playa
* Judah & Sunset
* Junipero Serra & Ocean
* Ocean & Jules
* Ocean & Lee
* Ocean & Phelan
* Randolph & Arch
* San Jose & Randall
* St. Francis Circle
* Taraval & 22nd Avenue
* Taraval & Sunset

Heritage
streetcar|

* 1st / Battery
* 3rd / Kearny
* 6th / Taylor
* 9th / Larkin
* Bay
* Beach & Mason
* Beach & Stockton
* Broadway
* Chestnut
* Dolores / Buchanan
* Don Chee Way & Steuart
* Ferry Building
* Gough
* Green
* Greenwich
* Guerrero / Laguna
* Pier 39
* Jefferson & Powell
* Jefferson & Taylor
* Jones & Beach
* Noe
* Sanchez
* Washington

Passenger rail stations in Solano County

| Amtrak|

* Fairfield–Vacaville
* Suisun–Fairfield

|

Passenger rail stations in Sonoma County

| SMART|

* Cotati
* Petaluma Downtown
* Petaluma North
* Rohnert Park
* Santa Rosa Downtown
* Santa Rosa North
* Sonoma County Airport
* Windsor

Planned
Cloverdale
Healdsburg

|

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