Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will purchase 61 hybrid diesel buses after receiving unanimous approval by the Board of Supervisors on legislation led by Supervisor Malia Cohen. As part of the SFMTA’s five year plan to replace the entire bus fleet, the procurement of 61 low-floor biodiesel-electric hybrid buses will improve transit service, improve the overall customer experience, and bring clean, new vehicles that use state-of-the-art hybrid and biofuel technologies to make Muni’s fleet, already one of the greenest in the nation, even cleaner.

“San Francisco is replacing its fleet, so we can bring our transportation system into the 21st Century and give riders the transportation experience they deserve,” said Mayor Lee. “This investment is a giant leap forward in making sure our fleet is clean, green and helps improve transit times.”

“The SFMTA’s fleet of diesel buses will reach or exceed its life expectancy in the next six years, but already San Francisco’s commuting public is experiencing the fallout from Muni’s unreliable fleet,” said Supervisor Cohen. “The purchase of these hybrid buses will decrease fuel consumption of buses and keep San Francisco residents healthier by reducing excessive emissions.”

The new buses, which will be purchased from New Flyer Industries, will use less fuel and have lower emissions. Today’s announcement adds to the 112 hybrid Muni buses purchased in 2013.

The $68 million purchase contract is funded through Federal Transit Administration grants, AB644 bridge toll, Prop K funds and other sources. The Board’s approval comes with a purchase option of up to 424 additional green buses. The contract spans the next six years, and is poised to make San Francisco one of the most environmentally friendly transit operations in the nation.

“Modernizing our transit fleet is at the core of Muni Forward,” said SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin. “Replacing old vehicles with these state of the art buses will augment existing efforts like ‘Red-Carpet Lanes’ and transit signal priority. This purchase is an all-encompassing investment, by the SFMTA, that will help shorten trips while increasing service reliability.”

Muni Forward aims to make getting around San Francisco safer and more reliable. Informed by the Transit Effectiveness Project and extensive community input, Muni Forward brings together in one place the long list of projects and planning efforts underway to achieve this vision. Muni Forward’s upcoming route changes and service improvements will help reallocate limited resources where they are needed most. Implementation of a Rapid Network of core routes serving over 70 percent of all riders will provide a faster and more reliable trip.

Updating the transit fleet and making important safety and accessibility projects across San Francisco, combined with WalkFirst projects, will help SFMTA better serve families, seniors, and the disabled, and improve comfort and safety for all customers.

Earlier this month, Mayor Lee launched the City’s Congestion Management Strategy, which outlines additional efforts the City could undertake, beyond traditional approaches. These additional efforts include smarter traffic enforcement, better construction permitting, and coordinated efforts through the City’s new Traffic Management Center (TMC). Over the next two years, additional efforts will focus on data and technology, planning and enforcement. The City remains committed to its long-term strategy to reduce both daily and “non-recurring” traffic congestion by improving the attractiveness of transit, cycling, and walking so that more people choose those modes for more trips; and remains committed to Vision Zero goals.  

For more information on Muni Forward, go to: www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/muni-forward-0.