SF Muni Highlights Greenest Fleet in North America
Muni officials discuss zero-emission fleet and curbside EV charging expansion
Muni Highlights Green Fleet in Climate Podcast
San Francisco's Muni operates the greenest public transit fleet of any major North American city, transit officials said during a new podcast episode released for San Francisco Climate Week. The agency's trolley buses, Metro trains, cable cars and streetcars all run as zero-emission vehicles, while diesel buses in the fleet are hybrids. Officials said riding transit remains the most effective way residents can reduce emissions.
Context
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency released the "Taken with Transportation" podcast episode titled "Going Green on San Francisco's Streets" during Climate Week, which runs through April 26. Bhavin Khatri, Muni's Zero Emission Manager, said getting people to ride transit is the most effective emissions reduction strategy for the city. SF Environment Director Tyrone Jue said every time riders tap their Clipper Card, they're taking climate action. The podcast features full interviews with transit and environmental officials discussing the city's green transportation initiatives.
Details
The SFMTA has supported electric vehicles in agency-owned garages for over 15 years and is now expanding charging infrastructure to city streets through a Curbside EV Charging Pilot Program. Broderick Paolo, a planner in the Parking and Curb Management group, discussed the program's goal of making charging more convenient for drivers who don't have home chargers. Officials said the pilot will transition to a permanent curbside charging program once legislation currently moving through City Hall is approved, though a specific timeline for that transition wasn't provided.
Timeline
San Francisco Climate Week runs through April 26, officials said. The SFMTA released the podcast episode during the climate-focused week to highlight the agency's environmental efforts. Officials said the curbside charging pilot will eventually become permanent through City Hall legislation, but didn't provide a timeline for when the pilot concludes or when the permanent program would launch.
Impact
The podcast aims to educate riders about how their transit choices contribute to San Francisco's climate goals. Officials emphasized that choosing Muni over driving directly reduces the city's carbon footprint. The expansion of curbside EV charging is designed to support residents without home charging access as the city transitions to electric vehicles. Moovit provides real-time updates for Muni routes throughout San Francisco.
