MUNI

Muni operates buses, light rail Metro trains, historic streetcars and iconic cable cars in San Francisco. (SFMTA Photograph)

For Bay Area Transit, a $590MM ‘Fiscal Bridge’ (UPDATED 2/20)

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on Jan. 30 reported reaching an agreement with the Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s Department of Finance for a $590 million loan that will “avert major service cuts” at San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Caltrain, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Muni, and Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) during the 2026-27 fiscal year that begins July 1.

SFMTA is saying “farewell” to an icon of San Francisco transit: Muni’s Breda-built LRVs. (Courtesy of SFMTA)

Transit Briefs: SFMTA, NJT, SJJPA, DART, Caltrain, Denver RTD, Alstom

After three decades of service and more than 10 million trips, the Breda light rail vehicles at San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) are being retired. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJT) marks a renovation milestone at Mahwah Station; San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) rebrands the Amtrak San Joaquins service in California; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) extends discounted fare card benefits amid the government shutdown; California’s Caltrain releases its customer satisfaction survey results; Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) is developing a comprehensive plan for additional, dedicated event service; and Alstom will hire more than 100 employees at its Plattsburgh, N.Y., plant to meet increased railcar demand.

Transit Briefs: NYMTA/SIR, BART, DART, MBTA, Bay Area Transit Systems, LA Metro

The Staten Island Railway (SIR) fleet is now entirely made up of the standard R211 subway cars. Also, August Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership sees steady growth; Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) Silver Line will launch on Oct. 25; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) CapeFLYER train reaches record ticket sales for the 2025 summer season; California legislature passes an authorizing ballot measure to address the Bay Area transit emergency; and LA Metro’s A Line Extension officially opens on Sept. 19.

  • News

Kirschbaum Tapped as SFMTA Director of Transportation

Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors on Feb. 18 announced that Julie Kirschbaum will lead the SFMTA as its permanent Director of Transportation. Kirschbaum has been the Acting Director of Transportation since Jan. 1, 2025.

MTA Metro-North Railroad will run its first-ever Holiday Lights Train on all three commuter rail lines from Nov. 29 through New Year’s. (Photo: MTA / Emily Moser)

Transit Briefs: Caltrans, NJ Transit, Metro-North, UTA, MDOT MTA

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) receives a federal grant to improve passenger rail service and freight movement in the San Joaquin Valley. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) earns a spot on the Forbes 2025 America’s Dream Employers list; MTA Metro-North Railroad debuts its Holiday Lights Train; Utah Transit Authority (UTA) celebrates 25 years of TRAX light rail service; and Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) launches an online merchandise store.

(SFMTA Photograph)

Muni: Ridership Up 25% in 2023

Municipal Railway (Muni) public transit registered 433,000 riders in 2023, a 25% increase over 2022, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail project is fully funded, and construction is nearing completion.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, SFMTA

Voters in two Massachusetts cities, New Bedford and Fall River, have voted to join the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in allowing the agency to move forward with its South Coast Rail project. Also, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) opens new Muni metro station in the heart of Union Square and announces that it will switch over to a new, upgraded software system.

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