SFMTA Board approves two-year budget, includes $485 million for rail Infrastructure

Written by jrood

The Board of Directors of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees all transportation in the city, including the Municipal Railway, approved the agency's two-year budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 and FY 2014. The fiscal year is July 1 to June 30.

This budget makes a significant investment in maintenance that will increase Muni’s reliability, reduce overtime through adequate staffing and focus on key initiatives such as the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP) and other means to speed the system, such as all-door boarding.

The budget also provides free transit service for low-income youth, ages 5-17, who use a Clipper card, for a 22-month pilot program beginning Aug. 1, contingent upon funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Other key components of the operating budget include implementing management efficiencies with $2 million in cuts to management staff; $5 million reduction in overtime and $1 million savings through improved management of worker’s compensation.

A projected savings of $7 million annually related to salaries and benefits in labor contracts currently being negotiated.

The Capital Budget consists of $582.3 million in FY 12-13 and $477.8 million in FY 13-14, funding various projects within 16 capital programs.

Rail-related funding commitments include a targeted $38 million investment in Muni Metro System track and signal infrastructure to improve service reliability, Additionally, more than $447 million to continue development of the Muni Metro T Third Central Subway project to decrease travel time and improve mobility.

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