Muni fares are on the rise again for the second time this year, which includes a smaller discount for passengers who use Clipper or the MuniMobile app to pay for single-ride fares.
At the start of the year, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) raised Muni fares for the first time since 2019, as the agency’s board opted not to raise fares during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fares will rise again starting July 1 as part of a second wave of increases that were included in the agency’s two-year budget approved last year.
The adult single-ride fares for passengers using Clipper or MuniMobile will rise from $2.75 to $2.85. The SFMTA explained on its website that the discounted fare for passengers using Clipper or MuniMobile will reduce from 25 cents to 15 cents. Rides for seniors, people with disabilities, and those who are part of the Clipper START program will see fares increase by five cents to $1.40.
The all-day Muni pass on MuniMobile or at the fare box will also rise from $5.50 to $5.70. Single-ride fares on cable cars will jump from $8 to $9.
Adult monthly Muni passes will increase by $1 from $85 to $86, while monthly passes with access to BART within San Francisco will increase from $102 to $104.
The fare increases come as the agency recently implemented service cuts to some Muni routes over the weekend. Transit officials said the 2 percent service cuts were necessary to address a $50 million shortfall that the agency faced at the start of the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
“That’s because the funding we get from parking fares in the city’s general fund are still down from the pandemic, and no one wants to cut Muni service, but doing this now will help us save $7 million out of that $50 million gap this summer and keep Muni running for everyone.” SFMTA spokesperson Michael Roccaforte told reporters last week.
It could get worse for the SFMTA as it projects a $322 million shortfall next summer. A regional ballot tax measure is still making its way through the state legislative process that, if approved, would go before Bay Area voters in November 2026 and would go toward funding transit operations.
In the meantime, the state legislature agreed on a budget that would fund transit and avoid service cuts over the next two years. The funding would help Bay Area transit systems, including Muni and BART, to fill budget shortfalls ahead of ballot measures. The state budget awaits the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom.