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SFMTA director updates board on state budget, M Ocean View quick-build and summer events
Summary
SFMTA Director Julie Kirschbaum told the board that the state budget includes transit stabilization funds and that quick-build transit lanes for the M Ocean View project are being painted on San Jose Avenue; the agency also prepared for large summer events and co-hosts the APTA rail conference in late June.
SFMTA Director Julie Kirschbaum briefed the board on June 17 about the state budget outlook, progress on the M Ocean View transit-safety quick-build and operational planning for summer events.
Kirschbaum said the state legislature sent a budget bill to the governor that includes a $750 million loan program for Bay Area transit agencies and preserves $1.1 billion in transit funding that local operators count on for fiscal year 2025–26. “The fact that all of this is in the legislation is very good news, but it’s not the final budget deal,” she said, noting that the governor and legislative leaders could amend terms and that “trailer bills” may add details over the summer.
On system projects, Kirschbaum reported crews had been painting transit lanes on San Jose Avenue as a quick-build element of the M Ocean View transit and safety project. She said the temporary markings will calm traffic, help the route’s roughly 18,000 daily riders and that a larger capital project is under design to make quick-build elements permanent. “It’s primarily stenciling you’re going to see. The pavement condition of the road does not lend itself at this point to the red carpet,” she said.
Kirschbaum also reviewed operations for June events. SFMTA planned service reroutes and staff support for Juneteenth, Pride (Bridal Parade) and for the American Public Transportation Association rail conference June 29–July 2, which agency staff co-hosted. Kirschbaum said roughly 100 parking-control officers and supervisors would work major events and that dozens of SFMTA staff were volunteering at the APTA conference, which was expected to draw about 1,500 attendees for technical tours and sessions.
Directors asked clarifying questions about the M Ocean View quick-build. Director Henderson asked whether boarding islands would be part of the immediate work; staff said the current week’s focus was transit lane paint and stenciling and that boarding-island concrete work was under design for later in 2025. Members of the public also urged SFMTA to run more service during large events and to coordinate traffic control to avoid crowding and safety risks; several public commenters told the board subway car capacity was inadequate at the end of a downtown protest.
Kirschbaum closed by thanking staff for the work on service changes and on coordinating around events and pointed to the state budget elements that could stabilize operations while the agency and regional partners pursue a local revenue measure.
