Seven months after California rail regulators stunned Muni by issuing a litany of violations with the transit agency’s operations, the two sides will meet for a prehearing conference to discuss the status of the state investigation.

The California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates railway operations in the state, has threatened the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates Muni, with fines of up to $20,000 a day if it didn’t address issues with its light-rail system. Officials from CPUC called Muni’s rail operations “the worst in the state,” due to problems with the agency’s safety, efficiency and infrastructure standards. The SFMTA said that those allegations were unfounded.

On Thursday, representatives from the CPUC and the SFMTA will meet to discuss how San Francisco’s transit agency has responded to the state investigation. The prehearing conference could determine if the investigation continues — opening the possibility of fines against the agency.

The conference will take place at 10 a.m. at the state office building on 505 Van Ness Ave.

wreisman@sfexaminer.com