Third Street Light Rail
On Saturday, I took the new Third Street Light Rail from the 4th and King Caltrain station to Bayshore. It was basically like riding any other Muni Metro line, but I was amazed at how much of San Francisco I've never seen. The southeastern part of the city is mysteriously invisible to those who don't live there; much of it is impoverished, it has much less economic activity than elsewhere in the city, portions have been polluted by a power plant and an abandoned naval station, there are few or no tourist attractions, and the region doesn't even appear on some tourist maps. For me, the City usually seems to be bordered by the freeways: I pretty much never venture southeast of the 280, or into the triangle bounded by the 280, the 101, and Cesar Chavez.
The Third Street rail line is still gleaming and new and takes thirty to forty minutes between Caltrain and Bayshore. It runs right past the new UCSF Mission Bay campus, which is going to have a major effect on southeastern San Francisco. If you like mass transit tourism, you have until April to take a preview ride on the weekend; board the T Third at any K, L, or M stop between Castro and Embarcadero, or at any former N stop between Embarcadero and 4th and King, or at any new T stop south of 4th and King. In the latter case, your ride is free until regularly scheduled service begins.
