You know Muni's Metro light-rail system: That's the J, K, L, M, N and T. The SFMTA Board is voting today on an unprecedentedly-huge purchase of new light rail vehicles intended to boost the fleet, and to reduce breakdowns (to which the current trains are oh-so-prone). It's a lot of dough, and it'll be a long time before we see any trains! Let's take a look at some of the numbers:

  • 101 years: The length of time Muni's been in operation
  • 151: The number of light rail vehicles in the current Muni Metro fleet
  • 117: The number in that fleet that run every day
  • 1996: The year those vehicles were bought from manufacturer AnsaldoBreda
  • 25 years: The life expectancy of those cars, which are "recommended for retirement starting in 2021"
  • 4,000-5,000 miles: The distance the current trains travel between failures
  • 60%: Muni Metro's current on-time performance rate
  • 24: The number of new cars the SFMTA would buy immediately for "near-term expansion"
  • 85: The number of additional vehicles the SFMTA would have an option of buying
  • 260: The total number of new vehicles the SFMTA would be buying, including replacement of existing cars
  • 72%: The increase in service these new vehicles would provide
  • $3.3 million: The cost, per car, of the new vehicles
  • 30 years: The life expectancy of the new vehicles
  • 59,000 miles: The distance these new trains are expected to travel before a failure.
  • $1.2 billion: The dollar amount of the deal the SFMTA would make with the Siemens Industry to design, manufacture and deliver the new vehicles from Sacramento
  • 15 years: The length of time that contract would last
  • 12/2016-2018: When we'd start seeing those first 24 new vehicles
  • 2021-2028: The years the replacements for Muni's current fleet of 151 would arrive
  • 2040: The year through which those last 85 vehicles could arrive (This is fun: calculate how old you'll be then. I'll be 69!)
  • 1:00: The time today's SFMTA meeting to discuss this new purchase begins at Room 400 of San Francisco City Hall. The public is welcome.

All facts and figures: Muni agreement would expand light rail fleet for future demand, July 15 2014 SF Examiner. You can read more interesting facts on the current Muni Metro fleet here.