The People Who Keep Muni on Track

Transit Mechanic Niño Ramos calls his position at the SFMTA a dream job. 

You may never see them, but they are a critical part of your Muni ride.

Our mechanics, welders, inspectors and other maintenance staff keep our transit system in good shape. Their work helps ensure that Muni is there when you need it. 

We recently had a chance to catch up with a couple SFMTA mechanics at our Presidio bus yard. We wanted to hear directly from them about what they do.

Vehicles that are in working order

“My job here [at] Muni is pretty much inspecting the bus,” Mechanic Niño Ramos told us. “I make sure there are no defects on the bus, especially if there's anything loose on the ceiling or somewhere on the side. [I make] sure everything is perfect, [and that] all the seats are okay to sit on.”

To Ramos, his position is a dream job. “I love being a mechanic because ever since I was little, I've always liked taking things apart, putting things together, especially cars,” he explained. “Little cars, toy cars, whatever it is, as long as it's near cars, then I'm happy to be there.”

Ramos also recognizes that he plays an important role in keeping the city moving. “Muni helps a lot of people get places, especially elder people,” he said. “People with no cars that don't drive, and especially kids that go to school. They take the bus wherever they need to go.”

Transit Mechanic Wen Huang takes his responsibility to ensure the safety of our vehicles seriously.

Protecting your safety

Safety and efficiency are on Mechanic Wen Huang’s mind while he’s on the job. “We make sure [every bus is] safe so it can go out there,” Huang said.

“My job is moving buses around,” Huang explained. “The [defective buses] go to a certain area. The good [buses] go to certain area.”

Keeping the yard organized helps maintenance work get done. “I make sure all those [buses] get fixed,” he told us. “So, all those riders will be on a safe bus all the time.”

Huang is also a Muni rider, himself. So, he can experience the benefits of his labor. “I take the 1 [California] line,” he said. “I take the N Judah.”

And Huang knows that the role he plays in Muni’s safety is part of a bigger picture. “I want to make sure the whole city is safe,” he said. “I see a lot of people everywhere. There's so much traffic around. I want those people to [be] safe and sound.”

Ensuring a smooth ride

Muni was the first public transit system to operate in a major U.S. city. We have been around for more than a hundred years, and we intend to be around for years to come.

We can do it, as long as we keep up our maintenance.