Giants Fans Urged to Take Transit to Parade

Bay Area transit agencies are adding service to accommodate the droves of fans expected to descend on San Francisco for Wednesday's World Series victory parade for the San Francisco Giants.

More than 1 million people streamed into the city in 2010 to celebrate the Giants for the 1 1/2-mile parade up Market Street to City Hall. Authorities expect about the same number this time.

This year's parade begins at 11 a.m. at Market and Steuart streets and will proceed down Market Street, making a right at McAllister Street and ending at City Hall (See our map of the parade route above).

A celebration will follow the parade in Civic Center Plaza. San Francisco Municipal Railway is adding six light-rail trains to supplement service, Muni spokesman Paul Rose said. The extra service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Caltrain, which carries about 20,000 commuters on an average weekday, is also adding service, as is BART, which reported 2010 parade ridership of an all-time record of 522,200 passengers. BART officials said the agency will be using every available train Wednesday.

Anyone planning to ride BART is encouraged to buy a roundtrip ticket -- or load up Clipper Cards -- today rather than waiting until Wednesday morning when there will be long lines at ticket machines.

Transit agencies are warning that there might not be much parking at BART and Caltrain stations. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District is adding extra ferry service, spokeswoman Mary Currie said.

In 2010, for the Giants World Series parade, Golden Gate Ferry  carried more than 15,000 people, Currie said. On a normal weekday, it serves about 6,600 people, she said.

Currie said the district expects similar ridership on Wednesday. Extra buses will be on standby, she said. Those planning to take a ferry to the city are also encouraged to  buy their tickets early, Currie said.

Rose said any riders coming into the city should expect delays. Commuters are advised to factor in extra time for their trips to work.

Both Market and Mission streets will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to about 5 p.m. for parade and celebration-related activities, Rose said.

Muni buses will be allowed on Mission Street during the closures, he said.

University of California Hastings College of the Law at 200 McAllister St. will be closed Wednesday because of the festivities.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Gwen Oldham said she is not aware of any plans by the chamber's 1,500 member businesses to close Wednesday.

--Bay City News Service contributed to this report.