San Francisco’s transportation system is in crisis. We’re facing a severe budget shortfall. Without new funding, we risk losing essential services that thousands of people depend on every day. We could face devastating cuts to Muni and other critical transportation programs. These changes would affect everyone, whether you walk, bike, drive or take Muni.
This is why the Muni Funding Working Group has been hosting important discussions. Our next meeting is on Friday, Jan. 31. We plan to discuss a range of existing and new funding sources. We invite you to join us and share feedback.
Learn what's at stake for the city's transportation services -- and how you can help us protect them.
The financial challenge we face
The pandemic hit our agency hard. It impacted parking fees, transit fares, tax revenue and grant funding. We saw a significant decline in funding across the board.
Meanwhile, the costs of running our transportation system have continued to rise. This is largely due to historically high inflation.
Now, we face a financial dilemma. Our next fiscal year starts in July 2025. By then, our agency will no longer have enough revenue to maintain the current level of services we provide to the public. In fact, by July 2026, the budget gap could reach $320 million.
This gap isn’t just a number. It represents real consequences for people who rely on Muni, paratransit services and safe streets every single day. Our work supports people taking the bus to work, biking through the city and driving to appointments. The SFMTA plays a crucial role in making sure everyone can get around safely, efficiently and affordably.
The SFMTA’s essential services
Our agency provides a wide range of services that impact every aspect of San Francisco’s transportation network.
SFMTA teams:
- Maintain traffic signals
- Paint curbs for new loading zones
- Respond to changing traffic patterns
- Improve road safety
And each day, Muni serves over 500,000 people, ensuring that San Franciscans can rely on public transit to get where they need to go.
But these services cannot continue without a sustainable funding model.
Exploring solutions with the community
The SFMTA and San Francisco Controller’s Office have convened the Muni Funding Working Group to address the funding gap. The group is studying ways to do this through efficiency improvements, service cuts, funding and service enhancements.
The working group includes representatives from the Mayor’s Office, Board of Supervisors, Controller’s Office, SFMTA Board of Directors, business, labor, community advocates and transit experts. You can find a roster in the link above.
Anyone can attend the Muni Funding Work Group meetings in person of online.
A series of discussions
The working group started meeting this past October and November. In those early sessions, the group discussed efficiency improvements and service cuts.
This month, the group has started reviewing ways to raise new funding. It held one meeting yesterday on this topic, and the next is on Friday, Jan. 31.
The group is discussing various funding options that could help prevent the need for drastic cuts. It's important to understand that these options are not proposals or plans that the SFMTA endorses. Rather, they are concepts for the group to discuss. They are meant to help members work toward a consensus on how to balance efficiency improvements, spending cuts and new funding.
What’s next
In February, the Muni Funding Working Group will discuss service improvements that the public would like to see.
Over the next several months, the Muni Funding Work Group will compare packages of service efficiencies, cuts and enhancements and funding options to address the budget gap.
Any options that move forward will need to be thoroughly vetted with San Francisco communities and stakeholders. They will also require approval from the SFMTA Board of Directors.
Your input is crucial
This is an issue that impacts every one of us — regardless of how you get around — and we need your input. It’s vital that we hear from a broad range of voices, especially those who rely on Muni and other SFMTA services every day. Whether you’re a regular transit rider, a business owner or a concerned resident, your perspective is invaluable to us.
We understand that some of the potential new fees and price increases may not be popular. We hope you agree that the alternative — massive cuts to our transportation services — would be far worse. This would disproportionately impact San Francisco workers, people who can’t afford to own a car and our most vulnerable communities. It would also jeopardize the city’s economic recovery.
Steps you can take
We encourage you to:
- Attend an upcoming Muni Funding Working Group meeting in person or online
- Share feedback with the working group during a session or at any time by email: con.munifunding@sfgov.org.
- Talk to your friends, coworkers and others about supporting new funding
To catch up on previous discussions, you can review materials on the Muni Funding Working Group website.
A collective effort to protect our transportation system
This is a challenging situation, and it will require sacrifice across the board. No one mode of transportation or one source of funding can bear the entire weight of solving this problem. We will need to look at all options. That means new funding sources, potential efficiency improvements and service cuts. Ultimately, we must find a way to ensure that our transportation system remains accessible and equitable for everyone.
We are at a critical moment. We can no longer afford to delay this conversation. The SFMTA needs to raise new funds—and we need to start doing it now. We welcome you to join us in this important dialogue. We hope you will share your thoughts and support solutions that protect our city’s transportation future.
Together, we can help ensure that San Francisco remains a city where everyone can get around safely, efficiently and affordably.