Are Muni fare increases fair?

Are higher fares in San Francisco fair? Compared with most other U.S. cities, the answer may be "yes". Compared with what is possible in a transit-first city, the answer must be, "could do better".

In September, Muni fares will go up by 25 cents - if a Feb. 28 decision by San Francisco's Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) is ratified next August by the city's Board of Supervisors.

The fare increases are being vigorously protested by a coalition organized by Transit Justice. The Sierra Club too has endorsed the "Platform for Transit Justice", which opposes a fare increase. The Club's San Francisco Group has submitted a package of proposed sources which would make any fare increase unnecessary.

MTA's recommendations include:

• $1.50 adult cash fare (a 50% increase in two years);
• $50 Fast Pass (up from $45);
• $5 cable-car cash fare (up a hefty 60% from its already overpriced $3);
• $10 increase in most parking tickets;
• $1 per hour increase in parking-meter rates in "neighborhood commercial areas";
• $60 fee for a residential-parking permit (currently $27; the increased fee now covers the cost of administration);
• small increases in some city garage rates;
• frequency reductions on some routes with low ridership;
• $10 million in "one-time use of preventative-maintenance funding/deferred capital projects".

In contrast with some previous budgets, these MTA proposals include some important steps to spread the budget pain, such as the increases in parking fees, meter rates, and tickets. It is fair for drivers to pay more to keep fares down, because drivers benefit from the reduced congestion and pollution when more people choose to use public transport. Further, cars impose many unpaid costs on society.

The rise for the Fast Pass is proportionately less than for cash fares. The Group has long advocated keeping Fast Pass fares down, because use of Fast Pass leads to speedier boarding (by saving passengers from fumbling for correct fare and struggling to flatten dollar bills into fare boxes) and hence speeds running times. We have also strongly opposed charging for transfers. The MTA has agreed, showing that public input can have an effect!

But adjustments need to be made. The proposed increases would cause hardship to low-income residents, and lead to fewer passengers. Muni should work with social-service agencies to meet the transit needs of low-income riders. Also, the delays in maintenance work are likely to lead to future problems.

The Group urges MTA to actively seek new long-term revenues to preserve services. MTA should do the homework now, and report back to the Board of Supervisors at public hearings - because the money will be needed next year. Possible measures include:

• an environmental-impact or registration fee on local vehicles;
• a local gas tax;
• a transit-impact fee for new residential parking spaces;
• an increase in the parking tax;
• further increases in garage rates;
• increased downtown meter rates (these would also provide an incentive for drivers to directly enter a garage rather than to drive around seeking a curb space; such driving around adds to congestion and impedes Muni).

Much more can be done to promote the importance of Muni services to the environmental and commercial health of the city.

A fare increase should be considered only after other revenue sources are proven impossible.

WhatYouCanDo

Write letters to the editors of San Francisco newspapers.

Letters to the Editor
San Francisco Chronicle
901 Mission St.
San Francisco CA 94103
letters@sfchronicle.com

Editorial Page Editor
The Examiner
450 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
letters@examiner.com

Write also to neighborhood and other local papers.

Write to both the mayor and the Supervisors at:

Mayor Gavin Newsom
(415) 554-6141
gavin.newsom@sfgov.org
City Hall, Room 200
One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102

The mailing address for supervisors is the same, but the room is 244.

Jake McGoldrick (District 1)
(415) 554-7410
Jake.McGoldrick@sfgov.org

Michela Alioto-Pier (District 2)
(415) 554-7752
Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org

Aaron Peskin (District 3)
(415) 554-7450
Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org

Fiona Ma (District 4)
(415) 554-7460
Fiona.Ma@sfgov.org

Ross Mirkarimi (District 5)
(415) 554-7630
Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org

Chris Daly (District 6)
(415) 554-7970
Chris.Daly@sfgov.org

Sean Elsbernd (District 7)
(415) 554-6516
Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org

Bevan Dufty (District 8)
(415) 554-9698
Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org

Tom Ammiano (District 9)
(415) 554-5144
Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org

Sophie Maxwell (District 10)
(415) 554-7670
Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org

Gerardo Sandoval (District 11)
(415) 554-6975
Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org

Urge that the MTA and the Supervisors take steps now to ensure that the MTA can prepare a budget truer to the spirit of transit-first" city next year - one that makes car commuters and all drivers pay more of their true costs.

For further ideas on Muni's budget, see "Sustainable Equitable Alternatives to a Muni Fare Increase" on the San Francisco Group web site sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/SFGroup/index.html

For more details on how society subsidizes cars, see www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/articles/subsidies.asp

Alice Mosley