Muni fare increase may arrive early
By: Mike Aldax
April 22, 2009
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| A little off the top: Part of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency’s plan to shore up its budget deficit is to discontinue eight of Muni’s 80 routes. (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — The cost of bus fare could jump to $2 in less than three months.
A new revenue proposal has the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency charging an extra 50 cents for a single-ride ticket starting July 1. It’s one of many ideas recession-battered Muni has come up with in recent weeks to erase a $129 million budget shortfall next fiscal year. An earlier budget proposal had riders paying $2 per ride beginning in September.
At a packed meeting Tuesday, the transit agency — which oversees Muni and The City’s parking meters, garages and taxis — officially declared a fiscal emergency in a 4-3 vote. The declaration means it can bypass a state review on the impact of proposed fare hikes and service cuts. By law, the transit agency must send a balanced budget to the mayor and Board of Supervisors by May 1.
None of the seven directors expressed opposition to the fare increase. Several directors were resistant to reducing service on the 39-Coit, 66-Quintara and 26-Valencia lines, citing community needs.
There was also a suggestion from directors to have the executive staff take a 4.7 percent pay cut — exactly the percentage of service cuts the agency’s current budget plan calls for.
“We’ve tried to minimize the impact as much as possible given the huge deficit we must resolve,” transit agency chief Nathaniel Ford said.
The latest budget also proposes raising parking-meter and garage rates in The City, and extending meter hours from 6 to 10 p.m. The plan would also extend meter operation to include Sundays, when parking is currently free.
“Charging for parking after 6 p.m. will do little to create turnover. It will only amount to a four-hour parking charge for local residents,” said Jim Lazarus, a senior vice president with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
The service-reduction plan includes discontinuing eight of Muni’s 80 routes and stopping service hours on several other routes at 10 p.m. daily. There are also plans to eliminate segments of some 15 routes.
Many taxi drivers at the meeting were upset about the transit agency’s proposal to sell or auction off medallions. Others railed
against a recommendation to reduce annual bus and streetcar service by 162,000 hours.
A comprehensive list of the budget proposal can be found at www.sfmta.com.
maldax@sfexaminer.com
Life’s little costs
Part of Municipal Transportation Agency’s budget-balancing plan:
Single-ride fare
Currently: $1.50
Proposed new fare: $2 starting July 1
Monthly Fast Pass
Currently: $45
Planned increase: $55 starting July 1
Proposed supplementary increase: $60 starting Jan. 1
Parking meters
Current operation: Through 6 p.m. six days a week
Proposal: Extend meter operation through 10 p.m. seven days a week
Source: Municipal Transportation Agency
