Mayor Ed Lee of San Francisco announced plans to add 40 more light-rail trains to the city’s fleet. This is in addition to the 175 new light-rail vehicles already planned for 2016.
In the November election voters approved a $500 million bond measure to help with the city’s transportation infrastructure. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Board of Supervisors support the decision to add more trains to the city fleet in an effort to help with the city’s growing population and increased Muni ridership.
The 40 light-rail vehicles will cost the city around $210 million and the 175 light-rail vehicles already approved have been purchased from Siemens for roughly $648 million. Money for the new light-rails is expecting to come from the SFMTA board of directors as well as California cap-and-trade funds.
It’s possible the city will purchase an additional 45 light-rail vehicles. The city currently has 150 light-rail vehicles in use and an additional 45 would bring the grand total to 260.
Riders were asked what they would like in new light-rail fleet vehicles and a primary request was permission to bring bicycles aboard. The new trains were designed to accommodate that request. The new vehicles will also last longer and require less maintainance.