S.F. Debuts Airport BART Link, Moscone Ctr. Expansion

San Francisco this summer enhanced its appeal to business travelers and meeting planners with the long-anticipated openings of the Moscone Convention Center Moscone West and Bay Area Rapid Transit station at San Francisco International Airport, linking the airport with stations throughout the BART system. Additionally, airlines began new routes to and from the city.

Moscone West, the third phase of the Moscone Convention Center, is located on the northwest corner of Fourth and Howard streets, across from Moscone South, which opened in December of 1981, and Moscone North, which opened in May of 1992. The new building, built at a cost of $187 million, adds 300,000 square feet of function space, creating a total of more than 900,000 square feet of available convention space. The convention center now includes more than 2 million square feet of building area, with up to 106 meeting rooms and nearly 123,000 square feet of pre-function lobbies.

With the completion of Moscone West, the Moscone Center is a collection of facilities covering more than 20 acres on three adjacent blocks. It anchors the 87-acre Yerba Buena Center redevelopment district in a neighborhood of hotels, theaters, restaurants, museums, galleries, housing, parks and urban recreation centers.

Meanwhile, San Francisco airport's new BART station officially opened in June, providing direct service between the airport and downtown San Francisco, as well as the northern peninsula, the East Bay and stations throughout the BART system.

The SFO BART station, located on the departures/ticketing level of the International Terminal main hall, allows passengers to exit the rapid transit system and step directly into the airport. The station also links to the Garage G AirTrain stop, providing an easy transfer to SFO's automated people mover system for fast transportation to all terminals, garages and the rental car center. Service is frequent: Trains run every 20 minutes between Millbrae and SFO, all day, every day, and prices vary, with fares ranging from $1.50 for a trip to Millbrae, to $6.90 for a ticket to Pittsburg/Bay Point.

Furthermore, getting around San Francisco by its famous cable cars now is a little more expensive. Effective Sept. 1, San Francisco Municipal Railway increased its fares from $ 1to $1.25, and a cable car ride from $2 to $3. According to the city, the increase was necessary to help balance the municipal budget. This was the first fare increase in 11 years.

On the air side, AirTran, America West, ATA, Horizon, Midwest and United airlines have expanded service to and from SFO.

ATA, which significantly has increased its flight schedule at San Francisco airport in the past 12 months, has announced it will bolster its SFO service with new twice-daily nonstops to Newark, and additional daily flights to Chicago Midway and Honolulu later this fall. New nonstops also include service to Cancun, Indianapolis and Tampa/St. Petersburg.

On ATA's new coast-to-coast nonstop flights, the carrier will offer a fully refundable one way walk up fare of $249. The fare has no change fees, no overnight stay requirements and is the lowest, regularly priced walkup fare to the New York area offered at any Bay Area airport, according to the airline. The flights will begin Oct. 26, and tickets now are available for sale. For travelers planning further in advance, ATA will offer even lower restricted fares, such as $139 one way.

George Mikelsons, ATA president and CEO, noted: "San Francisco is one of the most exciting markets in the country, and it's also been underserved by low-cost carriers. ATA is dramatically increasing its investment and commitment to SFO."

America West in December will begin nonstop, twice-daily service between New York JFK and SFO, and between Boston Logan International Airport and SFO in March of 2004. AirTran in November will start daily nonstop service between Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport and SFO.

Horizon Airlines now offers nonstop jet service between San Francisco and Tucson, Ariz., a route on which no other carrier currently offers nonstop service. At SFO, Horizon operates in conjunction with Alaska Airlines.

Midwest Airlines recently began daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Kansas City International Airport. Two flights operate between SFO and MCI Sunday through Friday. One flight each way is offered on Saturdays. The SFO-MCI flight provides continuing service to Milwaukee, Wis.

United Airlines has reinstated its nonstop service between San Francisco and Seoul, Korea. United also has increased flights to Baltimore, Boston, Honolulu, Kona, Maui, Las Vegas, New York JFK, Philadelphia and Portland, Ore. International flight increases include a second daily flight between San Francisco and London, and the resumption of daily San Francisco to Sydney service.