SFMTA celebrates 150 years of cable cars to offer $5 California-line from July 1 thru Dec. 31, 2023

(SAN FRANCISCO) This year marks the 150th anniversary of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars in service. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced a 6-month celebration including offering a special $5 California cable car line day pass from July 1 to the end of this year in addition to the existing $13 all-Muni day pass.

SFMTA kicked off a celebration party on June 13 at the California cable car line turnaround at Market, California and Drumm Streets. A ceremonial ride on the oldest cable car that once ran part of Andrew Hallidie’s original line was held and joined by Mayor London Breed, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, and SFMTA Director Jeff Tumlin.

The cable car for the ceremonial ride was the oldest surviving one, Big 19, which was originally built for service on Market Street in 1883 and one of the largest cable cars ever built. The ride ran up California Street through the Financial District, through Chinatown and over Nob Hill to Polk Gulch and Van Ness Avenue.

The 6-month special events include the first-ever public tours of the Muni shop where cable cars are built and rebuilt; history-themed walk/ride tours of neighborhoods served by the cable car lines; the planned operation of “ghost” cable cars from disappeared lines.

From July 1 to December 31 of 2023, a special $5 cable car all-day pass will be offered to let riders hop on and hop off the California cable car line. SFMTA hopes to encourage more visitors and residents exploration of neighborhoods along the route.

In addition to the $5 cable car day pass, residents and visitors can also use the existing all-day, all-Muni pass for $13 to hop on and off cable cars as well, F-line historic streetcars, Muni trains and buses to take walking tours of neighborhoods near the cable car lines.

“SFMTA owns and operates the cable cars as part of Muni, but really, they belong to everyone, and we invite people from around the world, around the Bay, and around the block, to enjoy our iconic cable cars.” said Tumlin.

“No other city in the world has cable cars. San Francisco was the first city with cable cars, and since 1957, we’ve been the only city to run them,” said Rick Laubscher, President of Market Street Railway. “Our special 150th anniversary website, sfcablecars.org, is filled with cable car history and little-known stories. It also makes it easy to combine cable car rides with walking tours of Chinatown, the Barbary Coast, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Union Square, Polk Gulch and the Financial District. It’s a great year to rediscover San Francisco and the cable cars.”