MUNI official cites federal aid for Central Subway

By Mike Aldax

June 21, 2007

John Funghi of the Municipal Transportation Agency reiterated Wednesday that the federal government supports a controversial Central Subway plan that would bring light rail service into San Francisco's Chinatown by 2016.

Funghi told critics who say the $1.4 billion plan is an ineffective use of funds that the San Francisco project is one of only 15 projects nationwide approved for the funding.

The government has earmarked $762 million for the project, according to the MTA.

"The government provided (the project) with a favorable rating compared to other transportation project costs in other cities," Funghi said.

In February, the project's proposal was given a medium rating, which allows the MTA the opportunity to lobby for more funds in the 2008 national budget.

Funghi said the issue is not about whether we should spend the federal money on alternative local projects. If the Central Subway project doesn't happen, "It won't mean federal money will stay in San Francisco," Funghi said. "The money might go to projects in other (U.S.) cities."

The Central Subway project would extend light rail service in a subway tunnel under the South of Market, Union Square and Chinatown neighborhoods, relieving pressure on the 30 and 45 bus lines, among others, according to the MTA

The project would not mean the discontinuance of either bus line except for the 30 short line, which currently ends in North Beach.

The 1.7-mile extension would connect to the new T-Third line, which serves the city's southeastern neighborhoods, according to the MTA.

MTA projects more than 20,000 people to ride Central Subway each day, claiming it would relieve congestion on bus lines, improve transportation service reliability and provide connections to Caltrain, BART, and Muni Metro.

But in January, an independent study commissioned by the MTA suggested that the Central Subway was a costly investment that does little to address future transit needs.

Engineering consultant Thomas Matoff, the city's former director of transit planning who analyzed the project, said in January that the Central Subway plan fell short.

"As proposed," Matoff wrote, "(the project) does not, apparently, effectively meet the market needs in the corridor it is intended to serve."

Funghi said the MTA continues to amend the project. The next steps for project planning include implementing cost reduction measures, finding more funding, continued public outreach and advancements on preliminary engineering.

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