One of the Bay Area’s largest transit agencies is encouraged by a steady recovery of ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains uncertain if the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and other operators will have enough funds to continue operating at current levels in the future.
Following the American Public Transportation Association Rail Conference in San Francisco this past Wednesday, Muni highlighted recent data showing a steady recovery for weekday and weekend public transportation use. According to the agency, weekday ridership in May was back to 79% of its historic norm, the highest it has been since the start of COVID-19 in March 2020.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie spoke at the conference on behalf of the SFMTA. He said public transit is the backbone of SF and will continue to get people to work, to recreational activities, or any other number of trips across the city.
“By focusing on getting the basics right, like faster service and more reliable trips, Muni — and San Francisco — will continue its comeback,” said Lurie.
However, his comments came after the mayor’s office enacted Muni service cuts in June in an effort to reduce spending and make the agency more efficient, frustrating residents with the reduction in service and cutting of lines.
Muni said it is facing a deficit of $320 million starting July 2026 because the current funding sources it has relied upon are down since the pandemic. The transit agency estimates service could be cut by a third of present levels without additional long-term funding, even though ridership is trending upwards.
On July 1, Muni, BART, AC Transit, and Golden Gate Transit increased fares for riders, but even those increases were not expected to fill the budget gaps in each agency.
California Senate Bill 63, also known as the Connect Bay Area Act, is one approach public transit operators are using to address the fiscal cliff. The bill allows for a regional measure for a sales tax that would help fund public transportation agencies.
“By focusing on getting the basics right, like faster service and more reliable trips, Muni — and San Francisco — will continue its comeback.” Mayor Daniel Lurie
The regional measure would be up for a public vote in November 2026. The counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco have agreed to participate, but transit advocates are pushing for San Mateo County to agree to the measure.
Seamless Bay Area Executive Director Adina Levin said the transit advocacy nonprofit is excited that recent ridership trends are positive, but hopes agreements are solidified to ensure operators are funded.
“This is critically important for San Franciscans and residents around the region, for overall affordability, to support housing affordability, to improve street safety and prevent congestion,” Levin said.