SF adds rail personnel in Muni budget
Written by Railway Age Staff
San Francisco's new Central Subway stations are scheduled to open in December 2019. Photo: SFMTA
San Francisco will hire more transit operators and expand its municipal rail service under a new budget approved this week.
The budget for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency was approved by its Board of Directors at $1.2 billion for 2019 and 2020 and next goes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Despite funding concerns and a directive from the late Mayor Ed Lee for no new ”net” hires, the agency will grow by 277 positions, from 5,692 to 5,969.
The SFMTA is an independent agency from the Mayor’s office and sets its own budget.
The staffing increase comes amid a number of development agreements, and includes 66 additional employees to run the new Central Subway stations set to open in December, 2019; 71 new operators for expanded Muni subway service as the city obtains new railcars, and 67 mechanics to maintain those vehicles and other support staff.
The operating budget will see Muni service expand in 2019 and 2020; the Muni Metro will see a boost in frequency along the J, K, L, M, N and T lines while the N-Judah will run single cars on weekends.
