The Los Angeles Times ran a troubling story saying that many large transit agencies, Muni among them, could face big-time financial problems because of rail car lease deals gone sour in the current economic meltdown. The Times noted that between 1980 and 2003, many transit properties sold their rail cars and leased them back, reaping a one-time cash infusion. But in the case of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, at least, the leases — with the troubled financial services giant AIG — may have to be paid back suddenly, which would require drastic service cuts.
Author: Rick Laubscher
Streetcar Rebuilding Proposals Delayed
Muni has two major requests for proposals to rebuild vintage streetcars out on the street. One proposal would renovate sixteen streamlined PCC streetcars to double the existing fleet of that type of car. The other would restore Muni’s flagship streetcar, vintage-1912 car No. 1, to its original glory in preparation for Muni’s centennial in 2012.
Important Muni Meeting Tuesday
Muni has been working on its Transit Effectiveness Project for two years now, trying to make service more effective. This is an important project, because it will determine which lines receive the most operating and capital funding, based on how they fit into the overall network and how many people they carry. “Rapid” is the highest category. We at MSR are pleased to see that after staff initially classified the “F” line as “local” service (even though it met every criterion they set out for “Rapid”), they looked more closely and reclassified both the F and the future E-line as Rapid.
E for Excellent, Embarcadero Streetcar Line Proves Popular
Rick Laubscher photo.
Iron Monster to Run Sunday on the E-line
Vintage car No. 162 near AT&T Park, returning to the barn on June 1, 2008 after being displayed at the APTA Rail Conference. Robert Parks photo.
PCC Streetcar Makes a Cameo in Harvey Milk Movie
Focus Features photo.
Ride the E-Embarcadero Line to South Beach
Streetcar No. 952 runs past the ballpark on King Street during the last E-line demonstration service on August 31, 2008. David Dugan photo.
Great History Lessons a Click Away
If you’re interested in reading some well-written (and accurate!) San Francisco transit history and musing on some very important “might-have-beens,” check out two recent entries on the Transbay Blog. Eric, the blogger, is a sharp observer and smooth writer. For years now, we’ve had in our ‘future file’ for Inside Track (our quarterly printed newsletter) the proposed Muni subway system that went down to defeat on the 1937 ballot. Eric beat us to it.
Accident Car Back in Service Already
Amid the crowds of the Sunday Streets San Francisco event on The Embarcadero this Sunday, August 31st, a red streetcar slipped quietly back into service. F-line PCC No. 1061 — the ‘Los Angeles Pacific Electric’ car — was on the road again after being rear-ended on August 4th by Milan tram No. 1807. The Muni body shop jumped right on the job and straightened out the damage to No. 1061, which included slight underframe damage, now fully repaired.
California Street Cable Car Extension?
San Francisco Municipal Railway photo.
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