SFMTA approves new Muni electric trolleys

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced Tuesday that it is moving forward in purchasing 60 new electronic trolley buses from New Flyer America, Inc.

The buses will replace Muni’s oldest and least reliable fleet of buses purchased in 1992 and put in service in 1994, according to the transit agency.

Muni’s electric trolley buses, which emit zero greenhouse gases during operation, serve 200,000 riders a day on routes that include the 1-California, 5-Fulton, 6-Parnassus, 14-Mission, 22-Fillmore  and 30-Stockton.

Muni said it has more than 300 trolley buses to replace over the next several years. The first 60 buses is the first phase of replacing the electric trolley fleet.

The cost of the first 60 vehicles is $95 million. The purchase of the vehicles is funded through federal grants, local Proposition K funding and local grants. The Board of Supervisors and SFMTA board approved the purchase back in January.

The SFMTA entered a vehicle contract with King County Metro in Washington state and New Flyer America Inc. to help expedite the process of purchasing the new vehicles.

Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement that replacing the aging fleet will help with improving Muni’s reliability and performance:

“San Francisco deserves a safe, reliable and affordable 21st Century transit system, and these sustainable upgrades will improve service for our City’s working families and workforce for many years to come.”

The first prototype of the new electronic trolley bus will arrive sometime next year.