In this issue... 

 

Taking On Muni's Budget Problems

Photo: SFMTA

Over the past six months, our Local Funding Working Group (including SFTR staff, board, and members) has been meeting to sort through the underlying causes of Muni's current budget woes and to explore workable solutions. Before the pandemic, Muni funding was very much on our minds and we were looking to build support for long-term, equitable solutions. The pandemic has made the financial challenges that much more obvious and urgent to address.

We're putting forward a series of pieces discussing the causes of the budget shortage, possible funding measures and sources, and our principals to guide what sort of funding measure we want to support.

Read our first blog outlining the needs and how we got where we are.

Then, email your supervisor urging them to identify and support bold funding for Muni!

 

Members Weigh In on Service Plans

SFTR members met to sort out the various proposals in the 2022 Muni Service plan so SFTR staff could hear members' concerns and questions.

While there was some debate about the different options, a core concern was building the public support needed to pass major funding in 2022. So while investing in a core network of frequent service might attract riders, it could sacrifice needed coverage and lose support for Muni at the ballot.

Another main concern was that the process for deciding these service changes isn't centering equity - it's primarily reaching those of us with internet access and is leaving a lot of riders out of the conversation.

Overall, we felt that members were sensitive to using Muni's resources efficiently - for example, making sure coverage supported good connections and transfers with some possible extensions or interlining. Members tended to favor Muni providing more coverage now, increasing frequency only where crowding is a problem. Investments for overall increased frequency could then be the goal of next years' ballot measure (should we get there).

 

 

MTC funding rally May 6, 2021

Speak Up For Muni Funds At MTC

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTC) is the regional body that distributes federal stimulus money to transit agencies like SFMTA.

Although Muni provides 55% of all transit trips in the Bay Area and 50% of all low-income trips, it has only received roughly one-third of the stimulus money that has been given out. These funds are critical to helping SFMTA restore service that riders in San Francisco desperately need.

Last Wednesday, San Francisco Transit Riders and our members joined Director of Transportation Jeff Tumlin and Commissioners Nick Josefowitz and Hillary Ronen to call on MTC to distribute a more equitable amount to Muni in its final round of allocations this October. 

The final vote will take place next Wednesday, October 27. To get more involved, join our next regional working group meeting on Tuesday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m.

 

Gimme Shelter, Funding Survey, Muni Open Houses

 


P.O. Box 193341, San Francisco, California  94119 [email protected]

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