Committee amends and forwards SFMTA contract for consultants to support train control upgrade

The Budget and Finance Committee voted to forward a resolution authorizing an as‑needed consultant services contract between SFMTA and the WSP/PGH Wong joint venture to support the communications‑based train control (CBTC) upgrade project, amending the not‑to‑exceed amount to $30,000,000 to match the SFMTA board’s direction.

Julie Kirschbaum, SFMTA transit director, called the train control replacement ‘‘one of the most complex and urgent projects’’ the agency is undertaking and said that without it Muni rail service would have to be significantly reduced. Project manager Dan Howard explained the existing automatic train control system is near the end of its useful life and that the CBTC upgrade will allow trains to remain connected systemwide, improving reliability and enabling better traffic signal coordination at surface intersections.

Howard described the consulting contract as critical to identify and reduce project risks, train SFMTA staff on operations and maintenance of the new system, and provide QA for the supplier and installers. SFMTA presented a project budget of roughly $700 million with about $400 million funded in the agency’s five‑year capital improvement plan; the consulting contract was presented as covering the first five years of work. The SFMTA board reduced the initially proposed $36 million not‑to‑exceed to $30 million and directed staff to return to the board at the five‑year mark for additional authorization if needed; the committee adopted the same amendment before forwarding the item.

The Budget and Legislative Analyst supported the amendment, noted the contract was competitively solicited and identified opportunities for improved contract performance monitoring within SFMTA. With no public comment, the committee forwarded the amended resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation.