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Board of Supervisors Approves Purchase of 50 Hybrid Muni Buses

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today approved the purchase of 50 new hybrid 40-foot buses from New Flyer Industries to be used as part of Muni’s bus fleet.  These new buses will be in addition to the 62 hybrid buses already approved. The new vehicles will be added to the current fleet of buses in service and replace 50 of its 2000/2001 Neoplan diesel buses which have reached or exceeded their useful service life of 12 years.

“We are improving Muni reliability, investing in a green and clean future for our City’s transit system, and improving the quality of life for people who live, work and visit San Francisco,” said Mayor Ed Lee.

“Every day, San Franciscans experience the fallout from Muni’s aging and unreliable vehicle fleet,” said Supervisor Scott Wiener, who sponsored the legislation approving the purchase.  “Gradually replacing Muni’s vehicle fleet will improve reliability and help make Muni the system it needs to be.”

The vehicles specified under the Minnesota contract were updated to include features necessary for San Francisco’s unique operating environment and high passenger loads. The total vehicle cost will be approximately $38.3 million or $690,000 per vehicle and is funded through federal, state, and local support.

“These buses will allow for an improved Muni system,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Board of Directors, which voted to approve this legislation earlier this month.  “Not only will they make for better and more efficient service, but they will continue the work we are doing to be one of the cleanest fleets in the country and improve rider experience.”

“We are bringing state-of-the-art new hybrid buses to Muni’s riders, investing in the infrastructure needed to make Muni a better means of transportation by improving transit performance and reliability,” said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation.

The SFMTA is aggressively pursuing replacement and rehabilitation programs on all buses, light rail vehicles, and historic streetcars.  Within the next two years, SFMTA expects to purchase 60 articulated trolley buses to replace current 20-year-old vehicles.  These programs directly support the agency’s two-year budget, focusing on maintenance and infrastructure improvement.