Wrapping up the subway

To mark the beginning of the construction on the Chinatown Central Subway station, SFMTA is wrapping the building at Stockton and Washington in an decorative vinyl wrap.

The artistic wrap features a mural provided by the Chinese Historical Society of America, artwork from Chinatown YMCA students, and renderings of the future station design. The wrap, which is expected to beautify the neighborhood and cut down on vandalism, will stay on the building until it is demolished later this year.

It will take several weeks to install the wrap over the building at 933-949 Stockton Street. While work is in progress, the sidewalks on the southwest corner of Stockton and Washington streets will be closed, but a temporary walkway will be installed.

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu sponsored the legislation that allows station construction to move forward and said:

“This progress for the Chinatown Station is a visible sign that the Central Subway is moving from the drawing board to reality. The Central Subway will help San Francisco fulfill its promise of being a Transit First city by providing a much-needed light rail connection between established neighborhoods like Chinatown and new ones like Mission Bay.”

The $1.6 billion Central Subway project will extend Muni’s T-Third light rail line from the 4th Street Caltrain station to Chinatown. Four new stations, including the Chinatown station, will be built along the 1.7-mile Central Subway line.

The Chinatown station design has been approved and MTA expects to accept bids for the build within the next few days. The station is expected to be completed by 2017.