San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie faced questions on Tuesday, during his monthly appearance before the Board of Supervisors, regarding potential cuts to Muni service this summer and next year.
Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who chairs the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, posed questions to the mayor about the potential service cuts that are anticipated for this summer as the city’s transportation agency faces a $50 million budget deficit at the start of July 1.
“Will you do everything in your power to ensure that we can weather the next couple of years with no service cuts to Muni while we work together on long-term solutions for the system?” Melgar asked of Lurie.
Lurie provided no plans to stop the service cuts this summer but said “I’m going to do everything in my power to support Muni’s immediate and long-term health.”
The Voice had previously reached out to the mayor’s office for comment about the summer service cuts but was referred to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).
The SFMTA last month shared three different proposals of how Muni service could look this summer, which included possibly reducing subway hours, and suspending and reducing the frequency of some Muni routes. Transit officials have pointed to less-than-expected parking revenue, general fund transfers, and state operating grants attributing to the $50 million deficit.
City transit officials have said they face an even bigger deficit next year, totaling $320 million starting July 1, 2026.
Melgar stressed the importance of having a robust Muni system, as she said about a third of residents do not own a private vehicle and rely on Muni to get to school, work, and appointments.
“A safe, accessible, affordable public transportation system is essential, an essential element of San Francisco’s past, our present, and our future, and a key ingredient for the success of our economy, education system, public health infrastructure,” she said.
The mayor said that future ballot measures would likely be necessary to support Muni’s budget.
Lurie echoed many of the comments from Melgar about the importance of Muni and its role in the city in reviving the city’s economy, adding that about 60 percent of regional transit trips either start or end in the city. However, the mayor added that the city is facing a budget crisis.
“No one, especially myself, no one wants to see Muni service cuts. But the city’s budget crisis is real, and the reality is this is what Muni may need to do to solve the wider budget crisis they’re facing.”
The mayor added that the SFMTA is not only looking at reducing Muni service but evaluating all of its experiences on what else could be cut or ways to improve efficiencies.
In a follow-up question, Melgar asked if the mayor had any ideas for funding sources for Muni.
Lurie said he was in Sacramento this week advocating for state funding but that the city needed a “multiprong approach” to fund the cash-strapped agency. “It is almost certain that we will need both local and regional revenue measures on the 2026 ballot to support Muni’s budget, and we’re going to need help with stop-gap funding this year.”
Flyers have been posted across Muni transit stops citywide where there could be potential cuts to service, informing riders to write letters to the mayor to stop the service cuts. The flyers have been posted by volunteers from the Muni Now, Muni Forever group.
Jaime Viloria, a member of the group, said it was “disappointing” to hear the mayor’s response, adding that it was “not inspiring.”
“For something as the backbone and the lifeblood of the city, we sure do treat it like a hernia,” said Viloria. “I’m asking this board and the mayor to help the MTA solve the problem.”