The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates the Municipal Railway (Muni), unveiled the work at the St. Francisco Circle Rail Replacement Project, which will be completed by September 4.

Upon completion of the project, Muni rail service on both the K Ingleside and the M Ocean View lines will be fully restored to preconstruction service levels. In conjunction with the completion of the project, the SFMTA will also restore 61 percent of the Muni service reductions implemented systemwide in May.

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.

The project also improved the intersection for pedestrians and bicyclists making it easier for both to cross by providing shorter distances for pedestrians to cross and making bicycle crossings perpendicular to the rail, which is safer, according to SFMTA.

The funding for this $25.9 million project was provided by the Federal Transit Administration, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) through a grant of Proposition K Local Transportation Sales Tax Funds.

Meanwhile, the restoration of 61 percent of the service reductions is made possible using funds generated from increased SFMTA operating efficiencies with additional one-time funding from the SFCTA and the MTC and were developed using 311 customer feedback along with data and technical analysis conducted during the Transit Effectiveness Project.

The SFMTA will work with Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisors David Chiu and Ross Mirkarimi, and the Controller's Office to craft a plan by December 1 to fully restore the Muni service reductions implemented systemwide in May.