Overview
- SFMTA will add 17 fare inspectors, growing the team from 59 to 76, to step up checks on buses and trains with $134 fines used as a deterrent.
- The agency will ask people who ride free, including youth and discount users, to tap a phone or pass so staff can track trips and separate eligible riders from cheats.
- The new two-year budget closes a $307 million annual gap but depends on two ballot measures in November, and up to 20 routes could face cuts if voters say no.
- Starting next July, parking meters rise by 25 cents an hour, late parking penalties go up 10 percent, single cable car rides increase from $9 to $12, and a new $18 day pass replaces multi-day tickets.
- Officials project about $128 million in fare revenue this fiscal year, up from $97 million in 2024 after years of decline highlighted by a SPUR report, and riders say uniformed checks also make commutes feel safer.