Long-awaited 7th Street Caltrain Crossing Opens at Mission Bay

It's only a few short yards, but it's a giant's leap for residents of Mission Bay in their travels around the foot of Potrero Hill and the new UCSF Mission Bay campus.

Tomorrow, the long-awaited crossing of 7th Street over Caltrain's tracks is opening.

'I am excited to announce that the 7th Street railroad crossing at the end of Berry Street is scheduled to open early tomorrow morning - barring any unforeseen technical issues that would create safety hazards,' said Catherine Reilly, Acting Project Manager for the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, in a press release sent to residents this afternoon.

Workmen putting the finishing touches to the crossing late this afternoon said everything should be ready for a 4 am opening. The crossing is next to the end of Mission Creek and alongside the pillars of the Expressway.

Rumours were flying among the workmen that Mayor Gavin Newsom would be on the tracks at 4 am for an official opening. They weren't sure if they were having their leg pulled.

'There's going to be a lot of activity here at 1 am,' said one of the guys. 'Maybe they're just trying to chivvy us along!'

I rang Catherine Reilly who said she hadn't heard anything about it and thought it was a

joke. Earlier in the day she'd been in a meeting, she said, and someone had joked about the Mayor, who is settling into life with a new baby daughter, being there! However, she checked with a couple of people, just to be sure.

And the answer: 'We think someone's had their leg pulled! But it would have made for a bit of excitement!' she said.

One of the many local residents looking forward to the opening of the crossing said, 'It opens up access to Potrero Hill and the developing Mission Bay community.'

The new crossing is wider than most because it runs across three tracks instead of two. Safety tips on its use are included in the press release, among them a note that Caltrain operates in a “push-pull” mode.

This means that southbound trains are pulled by the engine, but northbound on their way back into the city, the engine pushes the train from the rear. 'Despite their size, trains can be difficult to hear, especially in the “push” mode,' says Catherine Reilly.

Residents are also advised that the crossing will be noisy. Train horns will sound ¼ mile before the crossing, and crossing gate bells will ring.

Film Shoot of TV Pilot 'Trauma' 13

The 'emergency' helicopter left the scene of the TV pilot Trauma this evening, but not before flames once again shot from the stricken fuel tanker and smoke surrounded it - see previous blogs for stories

On the highway over Mission Creek it was action again. At 7 pm the helicopter's blades whirred.

Behind it the smoke that had been seen thinly all day by the tanker began to thicken, and suddenly flames burst out of the top of it.

The chopper lifted slowly off the highway and dipping its nose headed purposefully over the creek and towards the bay.

In the story, one of the victims to be ferried to hospital - there may be more - is one of a group of four young baseball players being driven by one of their mums. An interview with the boys is in an earlier blog.

Traffic was halted for a few minutes but flowed smoothly within minutes of the take-off. Filming on the highway is continuing through Wednesday.

pics by Chris

Film Shoot of TV Pilot 'Trauma' 12

An 'emergency' helicopter landing on the expressway over Mission Creek this afternoon left casual observers open-mouthed!

'I'm ducking for cover!' said Dave, standing there with fellow workers James and Reed as filming of the NBC pilot Trauma took on another dramatic turn - see previous blogs for yesterday's spectacular fireball and other stories

'He's way too close!' said James. The three men could scarcely believe their eyes as the blue and white chopper descended almost above our heads and appeared to barely clip the concrete sides of the highway.

But as it turned out minutes later, it was all a case of perspective. Taking a pic from another angle showed that the chopper was in fact well above the sides of the highway. Still, it will be a moment to be remembered!

As the helicopter landed, small explosions could be heard around the tanker on the film set where throughout the day thin wisps of smoke have been rising up. The pilot features paramedics rushing to the rescue of a multi-vehicle pile-up and tanker explosion.

By 3 pm the helicopter was circling the area and making a couple of low fly-pasts before landing successfully on the highway.

Traffic on the northbound Interstate 280 that runs over the creek and past the foot of Potrero Hill has mostly been slowed to a crawl today.

pics show: the helicopter has landed!; descending over the concrete; making a fly-past over the highway and creek with Potrero Hill in the background; Dave, James and Reed.

Film Shoot of TV Pilot 'Trauma' 10

At the top of the small jetty on the creek, Patrick as an amateur photographer was celebrating the success of capturing great shots of the exploding fire tanker - see previous blogs

'I got a really good shot!' he started to say.

'That was very cool!' suddenly said a young woman tapping me excitedly on the arm as she passed by.

Patrick had had the help of the 'fire squad' who had been tuning in to the action on their radios.

'We did a countdown,' he said. 'First they said there was a fire in the hole (of the tanker), then we counted down. That's why I had my camera at the spot and was able to get the good shots.'

He flicked through his camera replay to show me.

Billowing flames exploding over the creek, the houseboats and the expressway. A one-off capturing of an event that will never be repeated here at Mission Bay.

Filming of the pilot will continue on the expressway for the next three days and around the city for another three weeks. Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Film Commission are hoping that this $7 million pilot earner will translate into a production bringing jobs, profit and prestige to the city.

pics: more of the tanker explosions still in sequence from previous blog, and helicopters flying overhead - pics by Chris; Patrick at the top of the jetty