Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Issuance of the letter of no prejudice provided the newest indication that the full commitment of federal funding through the FTA's New Starts program may be forthcoming.

Cameron Beach, principal of Beach Consulting — a San Francisco-based consulting firm — joined the SFMTA's board in March 2007.

The $9.3 million utility relocation, to be completed by Synergy Project Management Inc, is expected to continue through June 2012.

Will submit the plan as part of the FTA’s New Starts Program in February. Plan is the agency’s best means for closing the remaining $137 million funding gap for the project, which is expected to cost $1.578 billion.

The St. Francisco Circle Rail Replacement Project included rebuilding two low-level boarding islands and two platforms for customers with disabilities and installing 3,000 track feet of rail; two automatic rail switches; and a fully integrated train and traffic signal control system as well as updating the storm sewer system.

Approach will be more frequent and flexible and will be deployed at more locations, offering greater coverage systemwide.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget, the SFMTA Board of Directors approved a partial service restoration to go into effect in July 2011.

So far, Muni, BART, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, Golden Gate Ferry and Caltrain — representing about 80 percent of Bay area transit riders — are on the regional smart card bandwagon.

The contract, awarded in September, is part of the Motor Coach Component Life Cycle Project, which allocates a total of $16 million in ARRA funding to directly improve vehicle availability, service reliability and performance by rehabilitating 35 standard (40-foot) and 27 articulated (60-foot) Muni buses.

Veolia Transportation has been managing paratransit services in San Francisco since 2000, which is a longer duration than any other prior contractor.