The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is receiving a federal grant that will aid the transit agency in preparing two Muni bus facilities for charging battery-electric buses.
Officials with the Department of Transportation made the announcement last month that the SFMTA will receive approximately $30 million to help transition the Islais Creek and Woods bus divisions into charging stations for battery-electric buses.
The money comes from the Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Facilities Program and will allow the SFMTA to purchase and install charging equipment, the FTA said.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said in a statement:
“The federal Department of Transportation grants announced for San Francisco will invest in Bay Area working families by modernizing our City’s transit system to be cleaner, safer and more reliable – while creating good-paying union jobs for San Franciscans.”
Battery-electric buses have already arrived in the city and are in revenue service. The SFMTA said seven buses currently in revenue service are being tested “on some of our most challenging routes.” Muni riders may have already caught a glimpse of these buses or have ridden on them, including on the 9 San Bruno, 22 Fillmore, 29 Sunset, and 44 O’Shaughnessy.
The SFMTA has purchased three battery-electric buses each from New Flyer, BYD USA, Proterra, and Nova Bus in order to test out the technology. The transit agency has a goal of an all-electric fleet by 2040.
In a statement, SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin said:
“We have the greenest fleet in North America and are committed to ensuring our battery electric buses will deliver the same environmental benefits and service features.”
Additionally, the SFMTA is receiving a $20 million grant from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. The grant will help fund the Bayview Connections: Phase 1 Harney Way BRT and Cycletrack project
DOT documents said:
“The project will protect non-motorized travels from safety risks and increase affordable transportation options by incorporating complete streets, bicycle lanes and cycle tracks, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes.”
Pelosi provided a letter of support of the project to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Pelosi’s office said.
