An informational presentation on the SF Railyards was presented to San Francisco’s Planning Commission on January 9th.  Below is a high-level overview of the materials and background presented. 

The SF Railyards is a 20-acre site at the nexus of the SoMa, Mission Bay, and Showplace Square neighborhoods. The site is located between 4th, King, 7th, and Townsend Streets and functions as Caltrain’s northern terminus and an active service and maintenance yard.

Prologis owns the underlying land, and Caltrain holds a perpetual easement to operate rail on the site.

The SF Railyards Planning Program refers to multiple parallel efforts at different stages in their respective processes. These efforts have transformative implications for the future of this site and the surrounding neighborhoods.

These efforts include (but are not limited to):

• The Portal (a.k.a. the Downtown Extension or DTX)

• Pennsylvania Avenue Extension (PAX)

• Caltrain Long Range Service Vision and Preliminary Business Case (PBC)

• SF Railyards Neighborhood Planning and Community Engagement

• SF Railyards Development Project

In 2019, the Planning Department entered into a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with partnering entities to facilitate coordination of these interrelated efforts.

Projects and efforts are underway, including rail extensions, community planning, and mixed-use developments.  

The key projects are:

  1. The Portal (Downtown Rail Extension/DTX):
    • Extends Caltrain and California High-Speed Rail to the Salesforce Transit Center via an underground station and tunnel.
    • Scheduled for revenue service by 2034, with 70% funding secured.
  2. Pennsylvania Avenue Extension (PAX):
    • Proposes extending The Portal's rail tunnel to eliminate at-grade crossings and improve connectivity.
    • Undergoing pre-environmental studies with alignment options.
  3. Caltrain 2040 Service Vision:
    • Aims to increase train frequency to 8 trains per hour in peak times and develop modernized rail infrastructure and facilities at the SF Railyards.
  4. SF Railyards Neighborhood Planning:
    • Focuses on connecting neighborhoods, improving public spaces, and enhancing community engagement.
  5. Development Project by Prologis and Caltrain:
    • Envisions a mixed-use transit hub with housing, offices, retail, and open spaces.
    • A development application is anticipated in 2025, followed by an environmental review.

From 2022 to 2024, a Railyards Working Group (RWG) was active. The group emphasized priorities such as enhancing multimodal connectivity, creating safe and accessible public spaces, and supporting housing equity and economic vitality. Public feedback highlighted the need for grade-level connections and comprehensive planning.

While the projects are still in the early stages, they focus on the following challenges and considerations: flooding and sea-level rise: Due to its low-lying location, the area is vulnerable to climate risks; economic viability: Long-term planning requires adaptive funding strategies; public safety and connectivity: Addressing traffic and pedestrian safety is critical; and housing: Projects should focus on equitable and affordable housing solutions.

The project's next steps include finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with relevant agencies in 2025, continued public outreach by Prologis and Caltrain, environmental reviews, and developing design standards to guide future developments.