Name It the Emperor Norton Tunnel

In all three of his “bridge Proclamations” of 1872, Emperor Norton specified that a bridge connecting Oakland and San Francisco be routed “via Goat Island” — what we know today as Yerba Buena Island.

Today, the tunnel through this island connects the east and west “halves” of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Opening as part of the bridge in 1936, this never officially named tunnel is the key that unlocks the Emperor’s vision.

In August 2026, with four weeks remaining in the legislative session, California State Senator Scott Wiener introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 193 to name the Yerba Buena Island tunnel the EMPEROR NORTON TUNNEL.

The Emperor Norton Trust was the sponsor of this resolution.

Although the Senate passed SCR 193 unanimously 39–0, Assembly leaders declined to bring the measure to a vote so late in the session.

The Emperor Norton Trust urges state lawmakers to take up and pass a reintroduced “Emperor Norton Tunnel” resolution in early 2027.

Please join us!