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Train Expansion Funds Officially Expand

Monday, July 6, 2015

Thanks to the leadership of Governor Brown, the California State Transportation Agency and Mayor Lee, SFMTA will receive $41 million in new cap and trade funds to expand our light rail train fleet by 64.

This is in addition to the 151 trains scheduled to replace the current fleet.

SFMTA's Light Rail Vehicles of the Future

Thanks to the leadership of Governor Brown, the California State Transportation Agency and Mayor Lee, SFMTA will receive $41 million in new cap and trade funds to expand our light rail train fleet by 64.

This is in addition to the 151 trains scheduled to replace the current fleet.

Mayor Lee said, “This funding will have a direct impact on riders, who will see new light rail vehicles and a more reliable, safe and affordable experience on Muni.”

The SFMTA has awarded a contract to Siemens to manufacture Muni’s next generation of LRVs. By the year 2040, it is estimated that Muni will carry over 1 million rides a day. These new vehicles will provide additional capacity to support 250,000 of those trips and increase transit connectivity for millions of people throughout the Bay Area.

To this, Ed Reiskin said: “These additional vehicles will bring a once-in-a-generation improvement for people riding Muni.”

The first LRVs are set to be delivered by the end of 2016 and will be placed into service in 2017. The new LRVs are being designed based on the feedback of more than 8,000 Muni riders collected last fall, including a new seat configuration, new interior color schemes, new exterior design and a host of other features.

Check out the video to see a full-scale model of the new trains.