Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board backs first Prop A bond issuance, development-fee appropriations and Muni investments with committee amendments
Summary
The committee advanced appropriations and the first series of Proposition A transportation general obligation bonds (up to $67.54M) to fund Muni Forward, pedestrian and bike safety, Better Market Street and Caltrain modernization; the committee asked the Controller to review SFMTA's indirect labor methodology and placed $2M of impact fees in reserve pending project selection.
SFMTA and city finance staff briefed the Budget and Finance Committee on a set of proposed appropriations and bond authorizations to accelerate capital work across San Francisco's transportation network. The package includes ordinances appropriating development impact fees and other revenues to SFMTA and the Department of Public Works, an appropriation of $8,000,000 of general fund baseline to exercise an option for additional light-rail vehicles, and the first issuance under the $500,000,000 Proposition A transportation and road improvement general-obligation bond program.
Director Erskine told the committee the first Prop A series would seek up to $67,540,000 in aggregate principal to finance projects that include Muni Forward rapid-network improvements, pedestrian-safety projects, Better Market Street preliminary engineering, and a Caltrain communications and positive train control contribution as part of a multi-county modernization pledge. The Office of Public Finance estimated average annual debt service on the first series at about $4,500,000 and a total estimated principal-and-interest cost over ~20 years of about $90,050,000; the Controller's Office noted the bond structure would remain within legal debt limits.
Budget Analyst staff recommended placing $2,000,000 of new development-impact-fee revenue on committee reserve pending selection of specific pedestrian and streetscape projects; the committee accepted that amendment. The committee also asked the Controller to evaluate SFMTA's direct-and-indirect labor-rate methodology after staff noted SFMTA's combined rates appear materially higher than Public Works' rates for comparable positions.
Supervisors praised the Muni Forward investments but raised concerns about project delivery and communications; SFMTA said it is strengthening project-management systems, training and public outreach. The committee moved items 9–13 forward with positive recommendations and technical amendments to the bond resolutions to permit execution of the sale documents and related administrative edits.
