“Imagine,” a voice whispers as you approach 22nd Street, “a street with stories etched into every block.” 22nd Street in San Francisco is an east-west thoroughfare. It cuts through Noe Valley, the Mission, and Potrero Hill. The street isn’t continuous but exists in segments.
The main western section runs between Hoffman Avenue and the Bayshore Freeway. Another segment stretches from Vermont Street to Wisconsin Street. You will also find a short alley off Missouri Street. An eastern section goes from Texas Street to Pier 70.
Below the elevated Interstate 280 lies 22nd Street station. This Caltrain station is unique. It’s the only one below ground level.
Did you know 22nd Street boasts one of San Francisco’s steepest blocks? Between Vicksburg and Church Streets in Noe Valley, the south side descends 79 feet in just 250 feet. The north side isn’t much different at 78 and a half feet. This yields an average grade of over 31%. It rivals Filbert Street’s steepest block. Both streets are one-way downhill.
In 2022, the city decided to add a section of 22nd Street to the Slow Streets program. This portion, between Chattanooga Street and Bryant Street, aims to reduce vehicle speeds. The goal is to keep them at or below 15 mph. They also want to reduce vehicle volumes to less than 1000 per day. As of April 2024, the SFMTA hadn’t given a timeline for the project.
The SFMTA also designated a section of 22nd Street as an east-west bicycle route. This route runs between Chattanooga Street and Potrero Avenue. The designation appeared on the agency’s 2019 bike map.
Let’s talk about the 22nd Street station. It opened when the Southern Pacific Railroad built the Bayshore Cutoff in 1907. It was originally known as 23rd Street. Metal stairs replaced the former wooden stairways in 2007.
The station is only accessible by stairways from 22nd Street and Iowa Street. There are no ramps or elevators. This makes it inaccessible to some. The narrow stairways can create bottlenecks. This is especially true when northbound trains arrive. A study in December 2021 suggested ramps as a temporary fix. This would improve accessibility while waiting for reconstruction or relocation.
The Downtown Rail Extension project might change the station’s location. Under the Pennsylvania Avenue alternative, Caltrain tracks would run through a new tunnel north of 22nd Street. The existing station would be replaced. The new station could be at the same site. Or it could move north to Mariposa Street or south to Cesar Chavez Street.
So, as you traverse 22nd Street, remember its slopes. Think about its slow street status and its underground station. This street is a microcosm of San Francisco itself. It’s a blend of steep challenges, progressive planning, and historical transit.