guidelines of this grant program and weighing against the needs that we have, which i think i communicated to the board in a letter some of those needs on the maintenance side were, it seemed like we had a good opportunity to address both needs through this grant program. the lion's share of the grant funds will go towards lrv rehab, light rare vehicle rehab program -- light rail -- which is a critical need that we have. you the smaller portion of the funds will enable us to fund smaller, now a 16-month free muni for youth for low-income youth pilot that i believe is, you know, very consistent with the spirit of the unanimous support of the board for the program. * and it's a balancing of different needs. we have needs of the system. we have needs of the community. these grant dollars i think are

well positioned to enable us to serve both. >> right. and just to focus the question, and please address this, as i said at the very outset of this discussion, i think it's important we as a board keep our promises and that's why i was very sort of reticent to make too many promises and said so in the first instance. i didn't want to promise a program we couldn't then fund. so, here my question is specifically -- and i realize this doesn't end the debate. but do you feel that our original resolution sort of binds us to do this today, given the funding we have from the mtc? or are we really evaluating this anew to see whether this is new money and whether this is a good use of it balanced in the program? >> i don't believe the resolution binds you because this board can adopt a different resolution that does something different. this use of funds is fully consistent with the words of that resolution. and i believe is consistent with the spirit, even though

the funding source is slightly different. what you're approving here today is not the youth pilot program per se. it's really our expenditure program for this particular grant, that the mtc is requiring have the agency board approval for regardless of how we were going to use these funds. >> so, are we going to approve how we use these funds at a later point? >> no, this is where you're approving how to use these funds. and it's the specific allocation of the majority for the light rail vehicle rehab and the smaller portion for the youth paths. we will bring next year a similar accept and spend resolution for your consideration that will have a similar split of funding for maintenance and for the balance of the youth fare program. >> and my other question will be how sure are we of this cost figure? because, you know, the month, it's been condensed in time and we don't rile have an idea of how many people will sign up for this. so, i'll put that out there, but i certainly want to give

supervisor campos a chance to speak to this. >> thank you, commissioner. you know, one of the things that it's true about the small minority that have opposed this project is that they are very resourceful and along the way finding different reasons to vote it no. i will give them that. but let me be very clear here. the resolution that this board passed was a resolution that called upon the program going forward if there is funding found at the mtc. it didn't specifically say where the source of funding -- what the source of funding would be. and what happened at the mtc is that the original request failed because there were some concerns that were raised in terms of sort of the structure of that request. and it was actually one of the people who originally voted against the request who then turned around and asked the mtc staff to come up with a different source of funding so that this program could go forward. and it was actually a

supervisor from marin who did that. and, so, the mtc crafted the funding that is before you in such a way to allow san francisco pursuant to this resolution that you pass to fund this program. and that's the reason why the funding allocation has been structured the way it is. and, in fact, san francisco is getting additional money that would otherwise get for that very purpose. the interesting thing -- i was having this conversation with supervisor cohen yesterday -- is that the unfortunate thing is that what we have seen is an effort to pit, you know, doing something to provide access to low-income youth against the very important goal of actually funding maintenance for the mta. the two are not mutually exclusive and, in fact, the program that's before you, the funding that's before you recognizes that to increase access to transportation, you have to do both.

and as director rifkin said, this funding proposal allows you to not only fund this pilot program, which is why -- one of the reasons that the mtc gave you this funding, but also allows you to meet the maintenance need that all of us should be addressed. you know, you don't have to choose between helping low-income youth and actually making the system work. i do believe that that is a false choice, and i think that we can walk and chiu gum at the same time. i think that it is in the interest of these youth that we have a system that works. but a system that works will not be meeting the needs of low-income families if families cannot afford to use that system. and, so, that's why we're here. i believe that this has been fully vetted by the mtc with a vote, by the way, was unanimous and everyone expected that san francisco would turn around and do exactly what you're about to do today, which is to fund this program with this money.

>> a very eloquent explanation, and i appreciate it. i continue to have my concerns about the trade-offs, which i don't think are necessarily a false choice, but i will say i am moved by the fact that i think we committed to this program if we got mtc funding. and i think it would be a bit of a refrenchment if we backed away from that. as we look at it again, i will look at the trade-off between rehabilitation which is definitely needed, but i hear supervisor campos on the notion that there was a resolution on this, and that he went out and found the funding and that's his position. >> thank you. we do a motion and second. other member support? >> second question about the cost. it's sort of a floating idea. this is our best guess. is that the -- >> we have the same level of certainty about the cost as we did when we brought this in the spring. and time will tell. >> i didn't ask the question artfully, i'm sorry. if the cost turns out to be less, obviously the money could be redirected to rehabilitation.

the bulk of it turns out to be more? >> the bulk of the budget is anticipated is offsetting the anticipated revenue loss. so, it's really on the revenue side of the ledger. if we lose less revenue than we anticipated, then we will have the funds available for other purposes. if we lose more revenue than anticipated, then we would have to look for ways to offset. right now, our revenue projections for the fiscal year are slightly above. i think a million dollars over on $8 28 million operating budget. so, we will put that into the pot as we watch revenues and expenditures over the course of the year and we'll adjust as need be. >> okay, thank you. the motion and second on the motion. anybody else? i'd like to congratulate everybody here for an outstanding -- i support this as i did earlier. i would congratulate the organizations and the individuals and i want to say that we sit up here week after week. we hear a lot of stories.

a lot of stories you told were very compelling about how vital muni is to people in this city, how absolutely vital it is. you made a good case. in my opinion. so, if no one else has anything. >> one more quick. i'm sorry. just very quickly, i do want to also extend my gratitude to everyone in the community. you know, it's been a long hard road, at least two years. and the only reason why you're here today and we're here ready to support this is because you all were united. there is a saying that is frequently said at rallies, and it's something like, [in spanish]. in other words, the people united will never be defeated. i think that it's clear demonstration of unity that has happened that this body and also at ntc and here that over the long two years that you guys have been struggling, that your unity and your persistence got you to where you are. so, thank you for your tenacity. i do want to express some interest in making sure that we move this thing along as fast

as possible and get it implemented as quickly as possible. two years has been a long time coming and so if we can expedite this as quickly as possible to get it implemented so these youth can take advantage of this benefit quickly would be my best interest. >> we have a motion and second. all in favor say aye. >> aye. >> opposed say no. ayes have it, so ordered. congratulations, supervisor and members. [cheering and applauding] >> come back any time. [laughter] >> okay, ladies and gentlemen. pardon me? we are going back to the regular agenda now. we are going back to -- okay, we are going back to the regular agenda now. we invited anyone who wanted to speak on this to speak.

only two people did. okay. so, as the room clears -- pardon me? i did ask, yes. okay. so, what he we propose to do at this point, we know there are a large none of people here to speak on the central subway issue. what we will do -- after we hear from the citizens advisory council is here and the business report, we'll go immediately to the central subway issue. before that, however, i'd like to ask my colleagues to join me in adjourning our meeting in memory today of supervisor mike nevan of san mateo county. he was an outstanding -- outstanding person. he was on the caltrain joint powers board, the transbay joint powers board. he was on the mtc, all kinds of things. he was a leader in san mateo county and a man of great compassion and a very dear friend of mine. he will be very buried friday this week. he w we will adjourn in ms.

memory and send it to his widow cathy. >> mr. chairman, before we move on from communications, item 10.20 has been removed from the consent calendar at the request of staff. also please be advised that the closed session scheduled for today's meeting has been canceled. >> thank you. with that, baysness report. >> item 6, introduction of new or unfinished business by board members. >> unfinished business? >> actually i do have something. i spoke on the phone to -- i can't call him captain any more because he's retired from the sfpd. he talked to me about the toy drive that the sfpd and the sf fire department do together. i know it's getting a little close to the time they do toy distribution on christmas day and he was wondering if there was a point person at the mta. that he could talk to about maybe doing some kind of facilitation * . the toys will be gathered at

lefty o'doole. it is short notice, but it would be a fun thing for mta to join with him. he was specifically thinking that maybe the 38 geary drivers could be given some toys on christmas day they could pass out to children they see on the buses that day. again, don't know if it's possible, but i just thought it might be something really nice for us to work with the sfpd and sf fire department on. >> director bridges actually beat you to the punch on this. she made the same call and request to me on friday. i've since then been in touch with the organizer of the event. >> director. [speaker not understood]. thank you. >> next item. thank you. >> all right. moving on to the director's report. >> director, good afternoon. >> good afternoon, chairperson nolan, members of the board, members of the public and staff. i'm going to start as we do the first meeting of each month recognizing a few of our outstanding employees. and first i'd like to ask mr.

vince harris who leads our capital projects division to come forward with chu win chee. she is one of our talented capital engineers. she's been with the agency over 15 years. always goes beyond the call of duty to solve any project problems, address project concerns and work effectively with the project team. department clients, consult apartments and the public. she's been a project engineer for the [speaker not understood] transportation radio project which is a very complicated design/build project, very significant, $100 million project that we're currently undertaking to modernize our whole communications system throughout muni. she's involved in developing the rfp, negotiating with the contract, reviewing design and is now working with us and the transit staff and others to implement. previously she was involved with the cable street, cable car infrastructure, the

california street cable car infrastructure improvement project. a number of other projects, particularly in the electrical systems part of the system which you'll hear a little bit more today. but it's a special expertise that she brings to the agency and a special dedication of effort. so, we're pleased to honor her here and we'll ask ms. harris if he wants to say a few words. >> mr. chairman, and members, director rifkin, thank you for the opportunity to present this award to tee win. tee win, on behalf of all the division, we're extremely proud of what you do every day. thank you so very much for your work and congratulations on this award today. it reads, in recognition and appreciation of your dedication to improving the quality of life of the employees of the municipal transportation agency and the residents of san francisco by the san francisco municipal transportation agency. dated today, december 4, 2012,

signed by the chairman tom nolan and our director of transportation ed [inaudible]. congratulations. >> thank you. (applause) >> congratulations on behalf of the board. thank you so much for your out $125ctionving work and for all the people in the city. love to hear a few words from you. >> well, i want to thank the director, mr. rifkin, for the recommendation. and i want to thank the board for this award. i am truly honored and i want to thank mr. harris for the nomination. so, thank you very much. >> thank you. (applause) >> congratulations. and next, moving on to the transit division, we have two teams of employees that we're going to recognize from our maintenance of way section. these are the folks who maintain the entire system aside from the vehicles, everything that the vehicles run and rely on, the buildings, the tracks, all of that. i want to ask mr. haley to come up

with mr. young lalague. young is a track maintenance supervisor and terry manages the entire maintenance of way division and is here on behalf of the signal crew. both of these gentlemen have been with the agency for 13 years. and we're really recognizing them for two specific projects, one of which director heinicke is well familiar with, the eureka curve track replacement project which was replacing the track that you heard updates on often at the director's request over the course of the project. very significant in terms of the basic service of the muni metro service through the tunnels and that the track had gotten worn to the point where we couldn't run. it was not safe for us to run the trains at full speed. and the diminished speed diminished the level of service we were able to provide. after the rest of us went to

sleep every night over the course of many, many months, young and his crews went in and worked very efficiently, very cost-effectively to systematically replace those rails to put that part of the system into a good state of repair to raise the speeds. it's painful when you're on those trains coming -- leaving forest hills and you suffer through that agonizing slow down. so, very grateful for young and his crew for that project. and we've also -- the signal crews which terry here is to represent, led the upgrade of the automatic train control system, the signal loop. a loop of wires that run through the subway that basically provide for the communication of the automated train control system. when our trains are in the subway, they operate on an

automatic mode that allows them to move much more quickly and efficiently than they would if they were operating in manual. and when this cable is not functioning, the automatic system goes down. everybody switches into manual mode and the entire service, not just the eureka curve, the entire service degrades. so, it is a very significant project, fairly technical in terms of making sure there was not interference with the communication systems, and that the crews that worked on this also working after hours did a spectacular job. so, i want to thank you both for the service that you put in to make the train system work better and i'll ask mr. haley if he wants to add a few words. >> director heinicke, [speaker not understood]. i heard you might. [laughter] >> we'll give it to you. >> good afternoon. actually, it's good morning to me because i work graveyard shift.

to the chairman and to the board, thank you very much. i'm just up here representing the track maintenance crew which is a crew of 50. and i'm going to have to break this up in pieces and hand it to them. because as a team it's the only way we can function. one of the biggest significant things of this project we were able to do it on revenue hours which is no service disruption to the public. and those are the folks, the people at the city and county of san francisco that pay our wageses so we can go home and support our families. so, we are at a track maintenance department true civil servants of the city of san francisco. we thank you, board members for doing your job. if you weren't doing your job, we wouldn't have a job. so, thank you very much. (applause) >> i'd also like to thank the board and mr. rifkin and mr. haley for giving me the opportunity to lead young and

also the maintenance crew. again, to reiterate what young said, it's the guys, the boots on the ground that really carry this through, that when everyone else is sleeping, they're the ones out fixing the problems and getting the project done. so, i appreciate all of them, all your crew and all of the signal maintenance crew. >> thank you for outstanding work on these two vital projects. director heinicke. >> sure. i will say a special thank you. this has been as you know, terry and young, it's nice to see you. something of particular interest to me. and i think it would be remiss if i didn't note particular interest to director beach who i suspect is smiling for a brief moment and then will continue yelling at you guys. [laughter] >> so, on that note i will say this is a very tangible and significant thing. the speed and the curve is significant. when you multiply the number of people that go through the

curve, by the time lost because of that track wear, you're talking about very significant losses and people capital to the city. and, you know, taking away from people spending time with their families and other important things. so, cheryl bringtionctionv man and i have a chance to walk the tracks with you during the project. you stayed up late, even gave me a ride home which i appreciated. and you know, we saw the hard work from your crew and the people working in nonrevenue hours to do this. and, so, i'll say on the, you know, curve replacement, kudos and thank you for getting it done. on the atcs wire, you know, when mr. haley first came into this and we kept having these disturbed blocks and disturbed blocks and we actually had a hearing on this, and it came out that it was this wire getting pinched by sander hoses and so forth and so on. i remember, john, i asked you, i said can we wrap this thing in cryptonite? the market for cryptonite is very expensive. but the reality is despite last

night's incident which is something else. unfortunate timing but didn't have to do with the atcs wires. those incidents have gone down. you know, customers see the service getting better. they're not quite sure why. the reason is you guys have better protected the atcs service and that's making a big difference. so, i will compliment you on those two things. i'm glad we pushed for them. and i will say when you and i were down in the tunnel late that night, i asked you if we could get the speeds up in the main tunnel, you said yes, but we have to improve the tracks. maybe when we look at it next time, we can look at rehabing the tracks in the tunnel for further efficient a. cy. t -- efficiency. i say that for people who ride that tunnel and others. (applause) >> thank you. just to make a point of clarification for everyone, just two things. both of these will tremendously add to our safety and

reliability of the system, but as far as last night's events and what caused them, it was not the atcs system. >> right. >> you may recall that in our system we operate the two-signal systems. the atcs system which runs the trains and an older legacy system that controls the signals and switches. and what we suffered last night was a electrical short, a failure in this, which is the diode that was in the signal -- the power cabinet that drives the signals and what it required, terry's folks and the signal crew to do was to identify where the problem was and then remedy it, which took four or five hours because it required walking track from the central relay room at van ness back to the two, in this case, the problem was between [inaudible] sagvan ness. so, the atcs system continues to be more reliable with the

completion of this project. and the other thing to mention on the track work thats was done at eureka curve, not only is it a new way for us to deliver projects in terms of using our own work force, but it's a training opportunity to stretch the skills and once again prove that we have some terrific crafts men and workers here. so, i'm sorry to go long, but thank you. >> thank you, john, very much. >> yeah, thank you. i think while we're on the topic, i want to -- we've had a rough couple of days here in the muni system. i think i just want to kind of do a quick recap on yesterday. i think john explained what would happen. it may have been related to some of the storms we had which were quite unusual saturday night into sunday. it did cause -- we lost the subway from about 6:00 p.m.

yesterday evening for the rest of the night. but thanks to the work of the crews all night long, got it up and running in time for morning rush hour. that older legacy system that underlies the atcs is scheduled for replacement. you have already approved the project and the funding for it. so, it's another investment in the upgrade of the system that will lead to improved for reliability. but i get that that's not much solace for people who had a very difficult time getting home last night. * at the same time that that was happening, we had a historic streetcar on market street around dolores, between dolores and church that struck and very severely injured an individual pedestrian who was in the middle of the roadway which caused additional, additional delays. the day before on sunday morning, we had significant flooding, church and market, van ness and market, and civic

center would shut down the subway system for a good part of the morning from maybe 8 or 9 in the morning until about 1 in the afternoon. that was again somewhat extraordinary level of flooding. we've already been talking with public works and public utilities commission to see if there are other preventive things we can do in advance of storms to prevent the rainwater from coming as much into our system as it did. we essentially served as a secondary storm drain to handle some of that water flow. but that caused a significant disruption on saturday night we had a fatality on 3rd street around mission rock. we're still vehicling that. we don't know to what extent our vehicles were involved, but another, you know, very tragic event, and all that was preceded on thursday morning where we had a vehicle failure

around just past the forest hills station, just at the tail end of rush hour which stops subway service for i think about 40 minutes, which again created a whole lot of disruption. so, it's been a bad couple of days. we hope we're coming past it. not a whole lot of relation between those events except for last night's event may have been water related. but i just want to kind of acknowledge that we have problems we've been working on how we communicate in real time to people who are trying to manage the system when it's not running as normal, better than we have been. better provide real time information. i want to apologize for anybody who is caught up on that's correct particularly the friends and family of the people injured and the gentleman who lost his life. we certainly, without knowing the causes of all these things, it certainly reminds us of how

important our system is to san francisco and how when things aren't going well, it can really adversely impact people in a pretty significant way. so, i didn't want to let the meeting go by without acknowledging that. >> so, moving on to brighter things, we recently completed a project at outbound market street -- on outbound market street at valencia, to make left turns work better for cyclists. the way it had worked is that cyclistses would merge across the two lanes of traffic and across the f-line tracks, both of which cause safety issues for everybody, for both motorists, for f line operators and for cyclists. so, what we've done is put a cut out on the right so the left turning traffic goes to the right, waits for a signal which they now have from signal change to give them a protected green, that allows them to

safely cross in absence of traffic and perp dishtion lard to the tracks to make for a much safer environment. we've got new signage and pavement markings to make that clear. as everybody was stuck on the subway, i rode my bike yesterday and rode passed it. it's a significant safety improvement, not bust for cyclists, but for f line operators. it's a very busy area. we have 120 people -- it's about a third of the left turns off of market street during rush hour, our cyclists. so, they're taking a whole lot of vehicles off the road by being on their bikes. this will enable them to do so safety and connective. we have the greenway signal times for bicycle speed. so, small but significant safety improvement there.