PG&E Gas Leak Caused by Third Party, Disrupts PM Commute

4th and Brannan Station at 4th and Brannan streets (street level)
Phase 2, the Central Subway Project, will extend the T Third Line from the 4th Street Caltrain Station to Chinatown, providing a direct, rapid transit link from the Bayshore and Mission Bay areas to SoMa, Union Square and downtown.

I was JUST there!

I run through this area in the AM on the way to my BootCampSF class.  The next day, it was all over the news in glaring/blaring headlines: “GAS LEAK SHUTS DOWN SAN FRANCISCO’S FOLSOM STREET BEFORE THE EVENING COMMUTE!”

While out for a morning run – I stopped long enough to take a #selfie. The Central Subway Project will construct a modern, efficient light-rail line that will improve public transportation in San Francisco.

Well, that was both dramatic and not entirely true:

(1) Yes there was an incident: 1″ gas line broken during the work being done for the Central Subway project by a 3rd party. But PG&E Crews were there in minutes to safely and quickly stop the flow of gas.

(2) It did NOT “shut down” the commute as, unfortunately, told by some media outlets.  That area is already a “traffic nightmare,” ask anyone who travels it regularly. Granted, the incident on Wednesday didn’t help – but it in NO WAY “shut down” the flow of traffic. I call FOUL!

The leak was reported around 3:30 p.m. in the area of 4th and Folsom streets, according to the San Francisco Fire Department and it appears that a construction crew working on the Central Subway project in the area struck a 1-inch gas line, causing natural gas to be released.

Excavation and construction of the station roof deck along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets is underway.

PG&E crews responded and shut off the gas at 4:45 p.m..

We do know that SFMTA rerouted the 12 Bus.

Paul Rose, the MUNI Spokesman told ABC7 News  construction on the Central Subway was happening, but would not confirm that the gas line break was related.

I know Paul. I like Paul. We both have jobs to do but we BOTH know the gas line didn’t “break itself.”

I’ll leave it at that.