Muni brown uniforms get gray makeover

San Francisco Muni operators will soon ditch the recognizable, iconic brown uniforms in favor of a new gray uniform made with lighter materials.

Muni operators will start sporting several new light gray uniforms that include a buttoned long-sleeve shirt, dark pants, skirts for women operators, dark shorts, red and dark ties and gray short-sleeve polo shirts.

Jackets now will be black instead of brown with a red Muni logo, or operators can opt for a yellow reflective jacket.

A number of Muni operators showed off the new uniforms during Tuesday’s San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors meeting.

SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin said that it was a “historic event” because the brown uniforms had been part of Muni since the early 80s:

“We are now bringing a makeover to transit operator uniforms that will be getting a modern, updated look.”

The transit agency worked with the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A, which represents the more than 2,000 Muni operators in The City, to have operators vote on the new uniforms, said Reiskin.

Union President Eric Williams said the brown uniforms were uncomfortable for the operators especially during The City’s last heat wave:

“Now you know what a hot dog feels like in this heat.”

SFMTA board Director Malcolm Heinicke did point out that the gray shirts did not have any Muni identifier logos on them.

The transit agency is working on putting Muni logos on the shirt, said SFMTA Director of Transit John Haley.

Muni operator Linda Allen, who has been with the transit agency for 30 years, said the uniforms give the operators a new appearance and will bring comfort to the operators while on the job.

“They’re light. They’re not as heavy as before.”

Allen was sporting the new skirt, and said she felt cool and comfortable despite muggy weather on Tuesday:

“The lightness of it feels really good.”

The SFMTA is in the process of delivering the new uniforms, and passengers may start seeing Muni operators wearing the new uniforms as soon as the end of September.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.