SFMTA reports drop in observed fare evasion after stepped-up inspections; revenue per rider beginning to rise

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 combination of compliance, product changes, outreach and technology improvements.

What staff did: SFMTA said it used a mix of behavioral research, rider interviews, operational testing and redeployment of fare-inspector resources to inform changes. The agency interviewed riders, conducted product usability tests and spoke with fare inspectors to identify common situations in which riders do not pay — for example, technical issues when tapping a Clipper card, or pressure to ‘board quickly’ during busy all‑door boarding causing people to miss completing a transaction.

Staff emphasized the distinction between accidental nonpayment and deliberate evasion. “Some people are not paying for legitimate reasons — technical or transactional — and those need product and technology fixes,” Roos said. He added others were deliberately not paying and that visible inspections can change social norms.

Operational results and next steps: SFMTA staff said the agency currently has about 45 transit fare inspectors on duty and is in the process of hiring toward an authorized total of 80 positions. Staff reported plans to continue increased inspections—especially on Muni Metro and during high‑attendance events—and promised more outreach and education. The agency will test a public-facing campaign (“Don’t Be a Dodger”) timed to baseball season to promote paying fares and the role fare revenue plays in supporting service.

Technology and equity: Staff said a regional Clipper system upgrade (Clipper 2) will offer transactional improvements that could reduce accidental nonpayment and improve payment options for visitors and infrequent riders. Staff also said the agency is prioritizing equity in enforcement: inspectors focus deployments on riders who “could and should” be paying, while outreach efforts aim to connect low-income riders to existing subsidy programs such as the lifeline and regional single-ride discounts.

Board and public concerns: Directors and public speakers asked for more breakdowns of the causes of nonpayment and the costs of the enforcement program. Transit advocates asked for transparent data showing which routes are inspected and whether inspections disproportionately target routes serving low-income riders; staff said deployments are driven by a regular ComStat process that reviews line-by-line observed evasion, revenue per rider and inspection results and then adjusts deployments. Several public commenters urged that the agency pair enforcement with stronger, proactive outreach and easier enrollment in discount programs.

The board asked staff to return with continued reporting on the program’s cost-effectiveness, data about which riders and routes are affected, progress on Clipper 2, and ongoing plans to enroll eligible riders in discount programs.