Transit advocates and city elected officials kicked off Transit Month at San Francisco City Hall on Monday morning. But this year’s launch of the month-long celebration of all things transit, including events and contests in the city and across the Bay Area, highlighted the importance of passing two ballot measures this November to fund Muni.
“Of course, this month is an important month,” Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman said. “But we know this November is really, really important for our ability to continue to deliver at Muni.”
Voters in five Bay Area counties, including San Francisco, will vote on a regional sales tax measure that would last for 14 years and generate about $1 billion annually to help fund transit operations in the Bay Area. In San Francisco, voters will also decide on a parcel tax measure that would provide additional funding to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to support Muni operations.
The SFMTA has already raised the alarm that if one or both measures fail, the agency would need to cut Muni service. Still, city officials remained optimistic at the kickoff event for Transit Month, highlighting some of Muni’s recent accomplishments.
“In July, Muni averaged more than 500,000 weekday rides, and weekend ridership has surpassed pre-pandemic levels,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said. “We do also know, though, that Muni faces a serious financial challenge. My administration has been clear. We are going to fight for the transit system San Francisco needs and deserves.”
District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter said it was important to fight for transit even if Muni can be “maddening and frustrating” sometimes.
“We don’t fight for transit because it’s perfect,” Sauter said. “We do it because we know there’s so many magical moments on transit when those connections work perfectly when we’re flying in the new red lanes on Van Ness. …” adding, “That’s why we do it, and that is what is on the ballot this November.”
The transit advocacy group, San Francisco Transit Riders, has hosted and led Transit Month for 10 years, including when the inaugural event was called Transit Week. This year’s event was in partnership with Seamless Bay Area.
Sara Johnson, executive director for the San Francisco Transit Riders, spoke about Transit Month and its growth not just in the Bay Area, but also statewide.
“Now we have scaled our Transit Month to Southern California and Northern California, with over 100 events throughout the month of September,” Johnson said. “This growth tells us that transit isn’t a niche, it’s how we move.”
The public can find a list of Bay Area Transit Month Events online.
