Commuters on the N-Judah, Muni's busiest train line, are set to face delays later this month.

Beginning April 13, Muni will exclusively run bus shuttles on the western half of the line for an approximately two-week period. Both inbound and outbound passengers will have to transfer from buses to trains (and vice versa) at Carl and Cole streets, though train riders can take the line as far as Carl Street and Hillway Avenue.

The trains are going offline to allow construction on the Inner Sunset Streetscape Improvement Project, which has been ongoing for the past two years. The bus substitutions are necessary so that crews can complete paving work on Irving Street between Arguello Boulevard and 9th Avenue.

Muni will also take advantage of the train shutdown to do some track maintenance along the length of the line.

Image: Via SFMTA

This isn't the first time the N has switched to buses for work related to the streetscape project, but it is the lengthiest. The last train shutdown, in September 2017, took place over three weekends.

While the trains are offline, N-Judah bus shuttles will travel down Frederick Street to Lincoln Way, making stops at Lincoln Way (at Arguello) and 7th Avenue (at Judah). Shuttles will then turn onto Judah Street (at 7th), serving all the regular stops on the N-Judah route until its terminus at Ocean Beach.

Image: Via SFMTA

To address potential overcrowding on the bus shuttles, the SFMTA has suggested a few alternative routes for riders during the two-week period.

In addition to the N shuttles, downtown commuters can use the NX-Judah Express, 6-Haight/Parnassus, 7-Haight/Noriega and the 7X-Noriega Express.

Those who live in the Inner Sunset can also take the 43-Masonic or 44-O'Shaughnessy routes to Forest Hill station, then transfer to the L-Taraval to get downtown.

Passengers who need to get to the UCSF Medical Center are encouraged to transfer to the 43-Masonic or 6-Haight/Parnassus bus lines at Carl and Cole streets.