Chinatown Closures and Major Muni Service Changes Impact Sunday Commutes
Chinatown Street Fair and Road Closures
San Francisco commuters and residents should prepare for significant street closures in the Chinatown and North Beach areas today, Sunday, February 15, 2026. The Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair is in full swing, celebrating the Year of the Horse. As a result, Grant Avenue is currently closed to all vehicle traffic between California Street and Broadway. Additionally, Pacific Avenue (between Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street) and Jackson Street (between Stockton and Kearny streets) are blocked off to accommodate the festivities.
These closures are scheduled to remain in effect until 11:00 p.m. tonight. Motorists are advised to avoid the northeast quadrant of the city if possible, as heavy pedestrian traffic and narrow detours are causing localized gridlock. The 12 Folsom/Pacific Muni route is currently on detour to bypass the event area.
Major Muni Service Overhaul Begins
A massive shift in San Francisco’s transit landscape took effect this weekend following the closure of the Potrero Yard for a multi-year modernization project. As of yesterday, several Muni lines have implemented permanent route and schedule adjustments. Notably, the 5 Fulton now arrives every 7 minutes on weekends, and the 5R Fulton Rapid has increased frequency to every 8 minutes during peak Sunday hours to handle high demand.
Riders on the 48 Quintara-24th Street should note a permanent reroute through West Portal; the outbound line now travels on Ulloa Street instead of Vicente Street to reduce congestion. Furthermore, the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express has added a new stop at Stockton and Geary streets in Union Square to improve transfer accessibility. Other lines seeing minor timing adjustments include the 1, 6, 14, 54, 57, and 58. Check your mobile transit apps for the most current departure times.
Highway Alerts and Regional Transit
On the freeways, Caltrans continues rehabilitation work on the U.S. 101 "Hospital Curve." While major lane closures are generally restricted to late-night hours, intermittent daytime delays are expected near the Candlestick Park to Silver Avenue segment. In the SoMa district, the Transbay Howard Streetscape Project is causing lane reductions on Howard Street between The Embarcadero and 4th Street. Drivers should exercise caution near active construction crews.
BART is reporting minor 10-minute delays on the Millbrae line this morning due to an equipment problem. Additionally, riders are reminded that due to ongoing Clipper system upgrades, you must hold your card steady at the gate reader rather than tapping quickly. Caltrain is operating on its standard Sunday weekend schedule today, though travelers should plan ahead for a modified holiday schedule tomorrow for the Presidents' Day holiday.
Winter Storm Impacts at SFO
Finally, a Winter Storm Watch for Northern California is creating ripple effects for air travelers. While the heaviest snow is hitting the Sierra Nevada mountains, high winds and regional visibility issues are resulting in departure delays at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). If you are heading to the airport or picking up passengers, check flight statuses frequently as schedule disruptions are expected to persist through Monday.