Supervisors advance 3‑month Free Muni pilot with added paratransit funding; MTA urges caution on crowding

Chair Matt Haney convened the Budget & Appropriations Committee on May 12, 2021, and the panel called items 1 and 2 — an ordinance to appropriate $9.3 million from the city’s COVID response reserve for a three‑month free Muni pilot and an administrative‑code amendment creating a special fund to govern the pilot’s use.

Supervisor Dean Preston, the lead author, said the pilot would run July 1 through Sept. 30, 2021, and proposed two substantive amendments: explicitly extend the fare‑free pilot to paratransit services (SF Access, group van, and intercounty paratransit) so the program complies with federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and increase the appropriation to cover higher ridership projections. “Free Muni will put money back in people’s pockets,” Preston said, noting the average monthly Muni pass costs $81 and a three‑month pilot would save frequent riders roughly $243.

Dan Goncher of the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office summarized the fiscal context: SFMTA projected roughly $9.3 million in fixed‑route fare revenue for the quarter corresponding to the pilot period but noted recent upticks in ridership could raise that figure toward $10.7 million. Goncher reported the COVID response and economic loss reserve held about $505.1 million before any appropriation and that the proposed appropriation would leave the reserve near $495.8 million if enacted without changes. The BLA also noted the pilot and any fare reduction would require SFMTA board action and then Board of Supervisors approval.

SFMTA Director Jeff Tomlin told the committee the agency supports testing fare policy but urged sequencing with service restoration. “Our primary concern is delivering the service that San Franciscans need,” he said, explaining severe crowding on core corridors and operator shortages make San Francisco vulnerable to sudden ridership increases. Tomlin and staff said eliminating fares typically raises demand and could exacerbate crowding on routes already leaving riders behind at the curb, and that hiring and training new operators will take months.

Preston and allies stressed the pilot is time‑limited and funded from one‑time federal and reserve funds. Preston circulated an amendment that would add $1.8 million to cover paratransit cost projections and raise the total supplemental appropriation to $12.5 million to incorporate SFMTA’s updated revenue and ridership estimates.

Public comment during the Muni portion was dominated by riders and advocacy groups urging the pilot, saying it would reduce household costs, boost ridership, and further climate and equity goals. Several labor and transit‑advocacy speakers asked the city to pair fare relief with steps to restore and expand service.

After debate the committee approved Supervisor Preston’s substantive amendments by roll call and voted to continue both items, as amended, to the next meeting of Budget & Appropriations for final action. The measures must still clear the SFMTA board and the full Board of Supervisors before funding is released.