Projects

Summary: 
    •    Streamlining San Francisco transit with expanded underground service—Channel Lumber supplied essential concrete forms and complementary building materials, helping bring the T-Line Central Subway to life.
    •    Four new stations—4th/Brannan, Yerba Buena/Moscone, Union Square, and Chinatown/Rose Pak—now connect dense, congested city zones with efficient, modern light-rail infrastructure.
    •    From excavation and boring to systems testing, Channel Lumber played a critical role at each construction phase, underscoring its expertise in civil & community infrastructure projects.

Channel Lumber and the Central Subway Launch

At Channel Lumber, we're thrilled to have played an important role in the opening of San Francisco's new Central Subway—part of the T-Line expansion that officially began service on November 19, 2022.

For years, navigating central San Francisco—steep hills, heavy traffic, and congestion—has been challenging. The Central Subway changes that. With four strategically placed underground stations at 4th/Brannan, Yerba Buena/Moscone, Union Square, and Chinatown/Rose Pak, transit through these dense neighborhoods is now smoother, faster, and far more efficient.

Channel Lumber supplied high-quality concrete forms and other building materials throughout every stage of the Central Subway project—from initial excavation and tunnel boring to heavy construction and final system testing. Our materials were integral in:

    •    Building structural tunnels and station shells,
    •    Supporting installation of control systems, evacuation systems, radio and data communication infrastructures,
    •    Ensuring the safety and reliability of the new light-rail line as it prepared for public operations 

Engineering and Collaboration

The Central Subway stands as a feat of modern engineering and cooperation among architects, engineers, contractors, laborers, and city agencies. Channel Lumber’s involvement from project inception highlights our commitment to delivering solutions for urban civil & community infrastructure—backed by top-tier lumber, plywood, and formwork services.
We’re proud that our experience—ranging from concrete form supplies to custom millwork and FSC-certified lumber solutions—helped ensure that this key urban transit system could serve the public effectively.
For more information on our involvement in this and other landmark projects, feel free to contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions about Channel Lumber products and services? 

1. What specific materials did Channel Lumber provide for the Central Subway?

Channel Lumber supplied concrete forms along with essential building materials used in excavation support, tunnel and station construction, and systems testing throughout all development phases of the project

2. Which new stations were added as part of the Central Subway expansion?

The expansion introduced four stations: 4th/Brannan, Yerba Buena/Moscone, Union Square, and Chinatown/Rose Pak—greatly enhancing connectivity through central San Francisco 

3. How did Channel Lumber support safety and operational testing?

Beyond supplying materials for structural work, Channel Lumber’s products supported testing of control systems, evacuation procedures, and radio/data communications—crucial for ensuring passenger safety and operational readiness before the subway went live