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MTA presents two‑year budget; supervisors push for alternatives to proposed FastPass increase
Summary
The Municipal Transportation Agency presented a two‑year budget that balances via revenue improvements, management cuts and proposed year‑two fare increases (monthly FastPass from $45 to $55); supervisors and public commenters urged MTA staff to find alternatives and the committee continued consideration to allow further analysis and outreach.
The Municipal Transportation Agency presented a two‑year budget to the Budget & Finance Committee that agency leaders described as a mixture of revenue improvements, management cuts and targeted service investments funded in part by Prop A resources.
MTA representative Mr. Ford said the agency closed significant budget gaps through a combination of internal efficiencies, an SF Park revenue increase tied to parking management, and programmatic savings; he warned that the governor’s May revise to the state budget would cut state transit assistance, producing an immediate $10,000,000 operating hit and additional capital impacts. The MTA proposed a set of service and staffing investments in year‑one — including 159 frontline positions funded by Prop A to improve Muni reliability, more parking control officers and fare inspectors — and assumed an increase in the year‑two monthly FastPass from $45 to $55 to help balance the second year.
Supervisors expressed concern about raising the FastPass, particularly given the economic climate and the city's transit‑first goals. Several supervisors (including Supervisor Kelly and Supervisor Daley) urged the MTA to return with a budget that avoids a fare increase and to pursue other revenue options or further expense reductions. MTA staff said the year‑two increase is an assumption in a balanced two‑year plan and pledged to pursue alternatives between now and the second year to avoid or reduce the fare increase if possible.
Public commenters and interest groups weighed in: transit advocates, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, SPUR and neighborhood advocates urged the committee to support the budget as the best available plan to improve Muni and safety programs (pedestrian safety, operator training), while low‑income advocates pressed for a more generous Lifeline (low‑income) FastPass and improved distribution and eligibility (requests included lowering the Lifeline pass price to $15/month, expanding eligibility and adding BART access). MTA board and staff members told the committee that the agency will continue to search for alternatives and that the committee would meet again next week; the committee agreed to continue the MTA budget to allow further work and outreach.
