[BTinSF]

I figured this was more than a "tidbit".

Friday, October 26, 2007
S.F. subway project gets full funding
San Francisco Business Times - by Eric Young

One of San Francisco's most ambitious subway projects finally has funding in place, thanks to budget cutting and an unexpected windfall from the state.

The Central Subway project, which will create a new Muni line linking South of Market to Chinatown, has lined up $1.3 billion, officials said this week.

"It's great news we have the funding in place," said John Funghi, project manager for the Central Subway. "It's quite special to have a project at this early stage have such strong funding."

Last year city transportation officials were trying to close a funding gap of more than $400 million. Since then, planners at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency found ways to cut costs. Engineers reduced the length of subway station platforms 20 percent to 200 feet, reducing construction costs. They also changed the sequence of the construction schedule to require only five years of work instead of seven.

Some fortuitous events helped as well. Voters in California last year passed Proposition 1B, which will make nearly $20 billion available for transportation improvements through the sale of general obligation bonds. San Francisco's subway project will get $200 million from that measure.

The federal government is providing the lion's share of money with more than $700 million. Local funding comes from a half-cent sales tax passed in 2003 plus money collected at city-owned garages and parking spaces.

San Francisco transportation projects have a history of cost inflation. Consider the Third Street light rail project. A few years ago, the MTA said the work would cost $580 million and be completed in 2005. The project opened this year at a final cost of $648 million.

Muni planners said the budget for the Central Subway already has cash -- at least $221 million -- set aside for inflation.

City planners won't start digging the subway tunnels for three years at the earliest. The project is now in its environmental review phase. The environmental impact report was published last week, and the city is hosting community meetings on Oct. 30, Nov. 8 and Nov. 13 to discuss it.

Transit planners are considering three different routes for the subway. Each extends 1.7 miles, but they vary slightly in their alignment between the existing station at Fourth and King streets and the terminus near Stockton and Clay streets. Transit planners said comments from residents and businesses will be factored in their final decision for a route.

The route of the planned subway is served by buses that are running at capacity now. City planners said the expense of a subway is warranted because it will speed travel time.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfranci...ml?t=printable