Peninsula Moves!

By Will Reisman, @Willreisman

BART Transbay Closure This Weekend: If you’re thinking of travelling between the East Bay and San Francisco this weekend, you probably want to put those plans on hold. BART is closing down its Transbay Tube for two days so the rail agency can replace a half-mile of worn-down trackway in the tunnel that traverses the Bay. While BART will be working with local agencies (including SamTrans) to provide lifeline bus service in lieu of the train, the agency is recommending that residents stay on their side of the Bay this weekend, as the transit trips will be lengthy (1 -2 hour delays for some passengers) and traffic should be worse than normal. The closure will begin at the end of service on Friday and last through the day on Sunday. Transbay service is scheduled to be restored in time for the Monday morning commute. This weekend’s shutdown of the Transbay Tube is the first of two such planned events, with the next closure scheduled for Labor Day weekend in September.

Muni’s E-Embarcadero Line to Run for First Time in 68 years: While BART will be shutting down some service this weekend, Muni will be restarting an historic streetcar line that has been dormant since 1947. The E-Embarcadero Line will start running again on August 1 on a limited basis—the culmination of a long-awaited service-restoration. The line will connect Fisherman’s Wharf to AT&T Park, complimenting Muni’s other historic streetcar line, the F-Market & Wharves. For the time being, the E-Embarcadero will operate from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday. The line offered along the Embarcadero is a segment of the agency’s Muni Forward program, an initiative to increase transit service by 10 percent in San Francisco.

Help Fight Cancer With San Mateo’s Relay for Life Event: San Mateo will host a Relay for Life race on Saturday as part of a fundraising effort organized by the American Cancer Society. The relay race will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Central Park in downtown San Mateo and last until 7 p.m. The course around San Mateo will feature various themes for each lap, kicked off with an opening leg that honors cancer survivors and capping off with an 80s-themed dance party. During the course of the day, event participants will be able to enjoy live music and entertainment acts, Zumba exhibits and homemade BBQ. To find out more about the event, including ways to donate and fundraise, residents can visit the event website here.