5 Fulton is a trolleybus line operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). It is one of several routes which connects the Outer Richmond to the Financial District.

5 Fulton
Articulated trolleybus on McAllister Street, September 2019
Overview
SystemMuni trolleybus network
OperatorSan Francisco Municipal Railway
GaragePotrero[1]
VehicleNew Flyer XDE40 (5 weekday daytime)
New Flyer XT60 (5 other times & 5R)
Began service1906 (1906)
Route
LocaleSan Francisco, California
StartSalesforce Transit Center
McAllister and Market (owl)
ViaMcAllister Street, Fulton Street
EndFulton and 6th Avenue (weekday daytime)
Cabrillo and La Playa (other times, 5R)
Length6.9 miles (11.1 km)
Other routes1 California
3 Jackson
31 Balboa
38 Geary
Daily ridership5: 6,800 (June 2024)
5R: 6,800 (June 2024)[2]
Map5 Fulton / 5R Fulton Rapid Map
← 3 Jackson  List of San Francisco Municipal Railway lines  6 Haight/Parnassus →

Route description

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Two 5R and one 31 trolleybuses at the outbound terminal loop at Cabrillo and La Playa, November 2018

The line runs from the Salesforce Transit Center to Cabrillo and La Playa in the Outer Richmond primarily via McAllister and Fulton Streets. Local service during the day midweek is a short turn that terminates outbound at Fulton and 6th Avenue. Much of the route runs adjacent to Golden Gate Park. The 5R Fulton Rapid runs an identical route, but makes limited stops east of 6th Avenue to speed up end to end travel times.

The route operates 24 hours with less frequent short turn Owl service overnight as part of the All Nighter network.

History

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The Line was originally established as the McAllister streetcar in 1906,[3] running on Market Street, McAllister, Central and Masonic and Fulton.[citation needed] It acquired the number 5 in 1909, being the fifth of the United Railroads of San Francisco lines to turn off Market Street.[4] Tracks were extended to the ocean at La Playa and Balboa Streets in 1911.[5] Rail service was replaced by buses on June 5, 1948,[citation needed] and trolleybus operation began on July 3 the following year.[6][7][8]

The line was renamed to the 5 Fulton in 1976. Service was extended to Cabrillo and La Playa in 1995.[9] The 5L (later 5R) was established in 2013.[10] Muni implemented safety and speed enhancements throughout the corridor between the late 2000s and early 2020s, including bulb-outs, 60-foot (18 m) articulated buses, and bus lanes, among others.[11]

Overnight "Owl" service was extended from Jones Street to 4th Street on June 10, 2023.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Sisto, Carrie (December 7, 2018). "Muni to revamp Potrero bus yard — and potentially add housing on top". Hoodline. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Average daily Muni boardings by route and month (pre-pandemic to present)". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. January 2024.
  3. ^ "Relief Afforded to Heavy Traffic". San Francisco Chronicle. August 14, 1906. p. 9. Retrieved October 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Callwell 1999, p. 28
  5. ^ Callwell 1999, p. 27
  6. ^ Report. San Francisco. Public Utilities Commission. 1949. p. 43.
  7. ^ Hartlaub, Peter (February 23, 2018). "As wires crossed in 1949, Muni championed electric bus future". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Nolan, Dick (July 3, 1949). "5 Muni lines switch to new coaches today". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ Callwell 1999, p. 80
  10. ^ "Increased bus service launches on Muni's 5-Fulton line". San Francisco Examiner. October 28, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "SFMTA: Fulton Street sees transit, safety improvements". Mass Transit. December 6, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "Service Changes: June 10, 2023". San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority. June 10, 2023.

Bibliography

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KML is not from Wikidata
  • 5 Fulton — via San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency