San Francisco Muni's next-gen light-rail cars ready to go

The first five of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) latest generation light-rail vehicles have been cleared for passenger service, the agency announced last week.

The units could begin service as early as this week, SFMTA officials said in a blog post.

Under the agency's contract with Siemens, the current 151-car fleet will be completely replaced. The fleet also will be expanded with 68 new units. In a few months, SFMTA expects to receive the next five to six cars. By 2018's end, the agency will take delivery of the first 24 vehicles.

Each vehicle needs to be cleared, and subsequent multi-car configurations must be approved separately.

The first car will be dedicated to longtime Muni employee and former Transport Workers Union Local 250-A President Larry Martin.

In August, SFMTA completed all required testing for the first five of its next-generation light-rail vehicles, but was awaiting certification from the California Public Utilities Commission.