Muni Metro gets more funds to revamp floppy disk control system

Driving the news: The new communications-based control system will enable Muni Metro to track and monitor light rail vehicles using Wi-Fi and cell signals.

• It'll also ensure continuous communication and allow transit management staff to adjust the trains' speed and the amount of time spent at a stop. 
• The upgrades will be installed in several phases, starting with on-street rail between Embarcadero and Mission Bay. The subways will be next, followed by on-street rail segments in the south and west sides of the city. 
• The project is set to launch in 2025. Phase 1 is expected to finish by 2028, Phase 2 in early 2030 and the rest in 2032.

The big picture: The Muni Metro began providing service in 1980.

• It now operates 151 light rail vehicles and averages 173,500 riders per week but relies on outdated technology and a train control system that runs on floppy disks. The software has to be loaded every morning.
• The subway system still uses fragile loop cable wires that transmit data more slowly than a dial-up modem and limit the range of communication.

What they're saying: "To prevent an extended subway shutdown, it's critical to replace Muni Metro's deeply outdated train control system," San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency transportation director Jeffrey Tumlin said in a news release.

• "In the process, we have a unique opportunity to upgrade the system to the latest technology and extend it beyond the subways to all the on-street Muni Metro corridors citywide."