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Board delays vote on SFMTA option to buy 30 Siemens light‑rail vehicles
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted 8–3 on Sept. 14 to continue for one week consideration of an SFMTA option to procure 30 additional Siemens light‑rail vehicles, citing concerns about funding for operations and a looming deadline to exercise the purchase option.
At its Sept. 14 meeting the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8–3 to continue until Sept. 21 consideration of a Municipal Transportation Agency request to exercise an option to procure 30 additional light‑rail vehicles from Siemens Mobility.
Supervisor Preston, who made the motion to continue, said he supports long‑term investment in vehicles but is “struggling with … the potential tension between investment in these vehicles and funding of operations and service.” Preston said he wanted more assurance that buying vehicles would not come at the expense of restoring suspended bus and rail lines.
Supervisor Chan seconded the motion and said a one‑week continuance would allow “a more robust conversation” about how the purchase interacts with service restoration and with a concurrent city contract for parking‑meter replacements.
SFMTA Director Jeffrey Kirschbaum (Director Kirschbaum is identified in the record as the agency representative) told the board the city has a deadline tied to the option: “We have until September 28; the option evaporates after that. … If we miss September 28, the option goes away, and if we have to buy these trains in the future as a stand‑alone item, they’re likely to cost double.”
Several supervisors said they wanted written assurances about the funding source for the purchase. Supervisor Safai noted the budget committee added language forbidding use of enterprise operating funds for vehicle purchases and requiring SFMTA to provide a detailed written funding report before production begins. Preston and others sought further clarity about whether proposed funding would divert capital or operating dollars that could otherwise be used to restore service.
After discussion, the board voted on the motion to continue the item to Sept. 21. The roll call was 8 ayes, 3 noes; Supervisors Safai, Stephanie, and Melgar voted no. The continuance means the board will revisit the SFMTA procurement and the related parking‑meter contract together at its Sept. 21 meeting.
Action: Motion to continue consideration of item 18 to Sept. 21, 2021; mover: Supervisor Preston; second: Supervisor Chan; outcome: passed 8–3.
Next steps: SFMTA and the mayor’s office said they would expedite any required wet signatures if the board continues the item; SFMTA reiterated that the option price and timeline create a near‑term deadline and that missing it could materially increase future procurement cost.
