Rules Committee recommends reappointment of Christina Rupke to SFMTA board after questions on fares and 'Slow Streets' rollout

Supervisor Hillary Ronan, chair of the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee, said April 27 that the committee would forward a positive report on the mayor’s nomination to reappoint Christina Rupke to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors.

Rupke, who told the committee she has served on the SFMTA board for eight years and uses a chin‑controlled wheelchair, defended her vote in favor of the agency’s budget and attendant fare adjustments. "I voted for the budget because I really do think it balanced the need of the agency to move forward in a financially sustainable way," Rupke said, adding the fare changes are not immediate and were scheduled to take effect at the earliest in November 2020.

The committee pressed Rupke on whether the board considered federal CARES Act aid and on how she would approach difficult budget choices in ways that protect equity and service. Rupke said federal relief was considered but that the agency entered the budget cycle with a structural deficit prior to the pandemic and that about 20% of operating revenue comes from fares. She noted analyses showing lower‑income riders are more likely to use cash fares than Clipper cards and said the budget preserved a $3 cash fare for the next two budget cycles while reducing the Clipper discount.

Supervisors also questioned Rupke about service restoration priorities. Rupke said she would use SFMTA’s equity strategy to guide restorations — citing the T‑third line as an example of a corridor that needs attention — and said the agency should monitor travel patterns as the city transitions out of shelter‑in‑place. She also expressed support for complementary non‑transit measures such as the Slow Streets initiative.

Several supervisors pushed Rupke on agency communications after the rapid rollout of the Slow Streets program; Supervisor Catherine Stephanie said supervisors in affected districts had not been consulted and asked for a commitment to improve coordination. Rupke acknowledged staff were working under emergency conditions and said she values partnership with supervisors and hoped the emergency rollout would not become business as usual.

After closing public comment (no callers), Supervisor Gordon Mar moved to amend the committee motion to remove the word "rejecting" and to forward a positive recommendation as a committee report. The committee recorded roll‑call votes of "Aye" from Supervisors Catherine Stephanie, Gordon Mar and Hillary Ronan; the matter was recommended to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report.

The nomination will next appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for final confirmation.