Services slashed, fees hiked

By Pheonix Marie
The Guardsman

Just when Muni riders were getting accustomed to last year’s $10 fare hike, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is implementing another wave of rate increases. A slew of higher fares, including a jump from $55 to $70 for an Adult Fast Pass, took effect Jan. 1.

The prices of one, three and seven-day passports have been raised $2, and interagency stickers for transfers between BART and Muni have increased by $5. By May 1, monthly Senior, Youth and Disabled Passes will also be raised from $15 to $20.

“Once prices increase, they never go back down,” former Muni-rider Joel Pete said.
As an alternative to the Adult “A” Pass, which is valid for BART within San Francisco, SFMTA has introduced a Muni-only Fast Pass at a $10 discount.

The changes are due to SFMTA’s current $16.9 million deficit. Officials expect fare hikes to increase revenue by $4.85 million over the next six months.

SFMTA was forced to cut $77 million from their budget when the state legislature eliminated funding for transit operations. This cutback is being implemented with layoffs, route cuts and increased parking fines.

“Economically speaking, we’re biting ourselves in the ass,” City College economics student Daniel Reed said. Reed said that, though the fare hikes may help SFMTA with its deficit, it drains the economy as a whole.

“Public transit has always been subsidized,” he said. “When it’s easier to travel, people shop more and they can work more.”

Many City College students have noticed 36 Teresita buses no longer stop near Ocean campus. The 20 Columbus has been completely eliminated and the number of late-night OWL service lines is being slashed.

“We’re paying more and waiting more,” City College nursing student Megan Anderson said.
Car owners are also feeling the impact of Muni’s scramble for revenue.

“I constantly get ticketed in my own neighborhood for two-hour parking or street cleaning hours,” said Leah Webb. After a series of fines, Webb is most upset about a $45 ticket for not turning her wheels in and a $103 ticket received while parked in her driveway.

“People are busy trying to work and go to school,” said Webb. “It’s ridiculous having to be so paranoid about the technicalities of parking your car.”

Muni drivers refused to speak at length on the matter. However, while stopped at an end-of-route station, one driver, who declined to give his name, spoke briefly.

“We’re not supposed to talk about this,” the driver said. “There are cameras everywhere.” Despite his reluctance to give information, the driver said of the fare hikes, “It affects everyone. We hate it but, it’s politics. We just drive.”

SFMTA is seeking public input about the 2010 changes and the agency’s budget deficit.

For more information or to comment on SFMTA changes, go to sfmta.com