SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee along with members from the Board of Supervisors and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) joined to award Siemens a contract for $648 million to produce the new wave of Muni’s light rail vehicles.
More than 175 new Muni light rail vehicles will be added to the fleet to increase reliability and safety. The vehicles will be manufactured at Siemens’ Sacramento facility. The first cars are expected to be completed by 2016. According to a press release from the Mayor’s website, there is a possibility of an additional 85 cars to be manufactured for a total of 260 cars.
“Today, we are truly moving Muni forward. By expanding San Francisco’s light rail fleet, these new Siemens vehicles will make our City’s public transportation system more reliable, easier to maintain, and ready to meet the demands of a growing City,” said Mayor Lee. “This November, voters have the opportunity to approve a $500 million transportation bond that will provide critical infrastructure improvements that will also improve reliability, frequency and safety even before these new trains arrive. In addition, these new vehicles will be built right here in California, bringing jobs to our regional workforce.”
The contract awarded to Siemens is one of the largest in U.S. history.
“Barring multi-billion dollar investments in expanding the Market Street tunnel or creating new subway lines, this contract is probably the single greatest thing we can do for Muni riders,” said District 5 Supervisor London Breed. “On paper we have 151 trains now, but we generally only have about 110 available for service. It is this lack of trains – and reliable trains – that causes much of the delay, overcrowding, and frustration Muni riders experience every day. With this contract, we will soon have a full, reliable fleet of 21st Century trains for everyone who depends on Muni. I am incredibly proud to be a part of the effort, and I can’t wait to ride the new trains down the N-Judah soon.”
The new Muni light rail vehicles, known as the S200 Light Rail Vehicle will operate at speeds up to 50 mph and will have a hybrid creation that contains high-floor and low-floor light rail platforms, with nearly 1,300 already in operation.
“These new vehicles from Siemens will bring a once-in-a-generation improvement for people riding Muni,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin. “Compared to our current LRV fleet, these new Siemens vehicles will last 10 times longer before significant maintenance is required. Today’s milestone, coupled with future investments in our transportation infrastructure, will create a faster, more reliable transit system for the people of San Francisco.”
Three different car designs are in the mix which includes—The Presido, The Skyline and The Gate. The public will assist in the process, as well as input from stakeholders. The new cars will be able to hold up to 226 passengers and will utilize LED lighting, smart HVAC controls and electro-dynamic braking that decreases brake pad usage and the life cycle cost.
“For Siemens this contract is meaningful on many different levels: It is Siemens’ largest contract ever for light rail manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Siemens U.S. Rail System Division President Michael Cahill. “And to be able to design and manufacture these cars for our neighbors in San Francisco is going to be a very special privilege for our employees, a real element of pride for us.”
The S200 SF will utilize driver visibility to minimize blind spots to allow safe-in street operation. The will also have hydraulic brakes with the shortest reaction time possible, shortening the brake distance. The Central Subway Project through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Prop 1B State Bond, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority’s (SFCTA) Proposition K funds, grant funds programmed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and SFMTA Revenue Bonds.
For more information, go to: https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/agendaitems/7-15-14%20Item%2011%20LRV%204%20procurement.pdf.
By LaDale Anderson
