Muni riders could start seeing more transit fare inspectors on vehicles and subway station fare gate exits as the city’s transportation agency plans to hire more inspectors to address riders who skip paying fares.
Flanked by Muni transit fare inspectors, city and transportation leaders at Harvey Milk Plaza just outside the entrance of the Castro station, Mayor Daniel Lurie on Tuesday announced that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will hire 17 more inspectors. The total number of inspectors will grow from 59 to 76.
“We are launching a strong, clear approach to fare compliance across the community that will help generate critical revenue and strengthen trust between riders and the system,” Lurie said at the press conference.
The agency is also moving toward a tap-and-pay culture where most of Muni’s fares will be moved to Clipper, requiring riders to either tap a Clipper card, credit, or debit card to pay. As part of its two-year budget, the SFMTA plans to phase out its MuniMobile app.
SFMTA Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum highlighted ways in which some riders who use the app to pay for fares currently do not have to tap a Clipper reader, and youth 18 and under are also exempt from tapping.
“It creates a perception of fare evasion, a perception of unfairness,” Kirschbaum said. “We estimate that almost half of all Muni trips do not result in a visible form of payment, and we estimate up to a quarter of the total trips involve fare evasion.”
SFMTA employees are also exempt from tapping, but instead must show their employee badge as proof of payment. The agency plans to hand out Clipper cards to its 6,000 staff to create a visible presence for tapping on Muni vehicles.
Kirschbaum added that having more riders tap to pay will help the agency collect better data.
Other strategies include an educational campaign to remind riders that not paying the fare could result in a $134 fine. Launched last year, the “Don’t be a Dodger” campaign plays on the San Francisco Giants’ rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Posters of the campaign can be seen on Muni vehicles and subway stations.
The SFMTA is also looking to replace its fare gates at subway stations as they approach the end of their useful lives. Kirschbaum said the agency will look at BART’s experience in upgrading its fare gates.
Fare revenue is expected to bring $128 million in the current fiscal year, up by $14 million from what had been previously projected, Kirshbaum said.
