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SFMTA reports drop in observed fare evasion after stepped-up inspections; revenue per rider beginning to rise
Summary
SFMTA staff told the board that intensified fare-inspector deployments and product outreach corresponded with a 30% decline in observed fare evasion, a 6% increase in revenue per rider over 12 months, and doubled monthly inspections. The agency plans further hires, a public campaign and to leverage Clipper 2 technology.
SFMTA staff reported to the Board of Directors that a sustained deployment of transit fare inspectors coincided with measurable improvements in fare compliance and revenue performance.
Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Roos told the board the agency had doubled the number of inspections and increased inspections per hour by 86 percent during the reporting period. The “observed fare‑evasion rate” — the share of riders identified by inspectors as not having paid during spot inspections — fell by about 30 percent from its peak. Staff also reported revenue per rider across the system rose roughly 6 percent over the same 12-month period.
Why it matters: Fare revenue is a recurring funding source for Muni operations. Roos told the board fares historically comprised as much as 15 percent of SFMTA’s budget and are currently about 7 percent. The agency aims to increase fare revenue by an estimated $5 million per year through a…
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