SFMTA reroutes five bus lines for World Cup fleet maintenance | The Locally Times
Larger 40-foot buses replaced 30-foot vehicles on June 18, 2026, forcing route changes on the 35, 36, 37, 39, and 56 lines.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) rerouted five neighborhood bus lines on June 18, 2026, to accommodate preventative maintenance on its 30-foot bus fleet. The agency replaced the smaller vehicles with 40-foot buses on the 35 Eureka, 36 Teresita, 37 Corbett, 39 Coit, and 56 Rutland routes. Because the larger buses cannot handle narrow streets on these routes, the agency implemented mandatory detours and bypassed specific stops. ## Route Changes The SFMTA Travel & Transit Updates posted on June 19, 2026, states that real-time arrival predictions for stops near the impacted areas may be inaccurate or unavailable. The agency stationed personnel at affected segments during peak periods to provide directions. The SFMTA has not provided a date for when the 30-foot buses will return to service or when these routes will resume standard operations. ## World Cup Transit Coordination The SFMTA is currently managing increased transit demand for the FIFA World Cup 26™. This service supports fans attending matches at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara. On June 18, 2026, BART reported that a network of regional transit agencies, including the VTA, BART, and Caltrain, transported more than 37,000 passengers to the stadium opener. ## Resident Impact The reroutes force riders on the 35, 37, and 39 lines to walk to alternate stops. For seniors and people with disabilities who cannot reach these stops, the agency directs riders to the Essential Trip Card, a program providing two to three round trips by taxi at 20% of the cost of a standard fare. The SFMTA has not released data quantifying how many operators or vehicles were diverted from local routes to support the World Cup transit plan, nor has it clarified if the maintenance schedule for the 30-foot fleet was accelerated to coincide with the tournament. ## Key Questions **Which bus routes are affected by the maintenance-related reroutes?** The 35 Eureka, 36 Teresita, 37 Corbett, 39 Coit, and 56 Rutland routes are currently using 40-foot buses that require route modifications. **What should I expect if I take one of these buses?** Riders should anticipate longer wait times, inconsistent service, and potentially inaccurate arrival predictions, as the larger buses cannot access every stop on the original routes. **How long will these service changes last?** The SFMTA has not provided a timeline for the duration of the 30-foot bus fleet maintenance or a date for when normal service will be restored.