San Francisco Muni riders cope with first day of station closures, bus bridges

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It was a confusing Monday morning commute for some Muni Metro riders in San Francisco, on the first day of a planned summer-long construction project for the railroad.

The first shuttle busses rolled down Market Street early Monday connecting K,L and M line riders with Muni trains heading downtown. "It's very inconvenient, they didn't tell us what time the bus would come to my stop. The trains are late, the bus is late, everything is late," said rider George Balto.

The bus bridges are being used because West Portal and Forest Hill stations are scheduled to be closed for two months. It's allowing for a $48 million track replacement project inside the Twin Peaks tunnel.

On Monday, Muni had an army of representatives at stations and stops, helping riders get where they needed to go. "I woke up early to hop on a bus to get to work," said rider Morgan Moreno.

The project has turned one block of West Portal Ave. into a construction zone, now off-limits to cars.

RELATED: San Francisco Twin Peaks Tunnel to close for repairs

Local business owners are concerned customers won't be able to find them. "It means less parking, less chance for people to come here," said Rain Tree Cafe manager Michelle Rementeria.

Muni's chief hopes the public will be patient and understanding. "We thank our passengers for their patience and indulgence, when the project is completed we'll have a quicker, more reliable ride into town," said SFMTA Director of Transit John Haley.

The project is scheduled for completion, August 24.

Click here for more information on the Twin Peaks Tunnel Improvement Project.