By TIM JUE
Beat Staff Writer

A slew of service cuts and fare hikes may be looming very soon for riders of the cash strapped San Francisco Municipal Railway as its parent agency grapples with a growing budget deficit that could force the Railway to implement such changes as early as September 2009.

In a revised budget made public Thursday, the agency laid out all the possible options at closing a projected $129 million hole in the 2009-2010 fiscal year including layoffs, fare hikes, charging for transfers on the MUNI system, and slashing service on a number of lightly used routes.

The agency presented three options for service cuts ranging from cuts and modifications to a handful of routes to a sweeping overhaul of MUNI service through cuts and other line modifications that would save the MTA an estimated $17.8 million annually.

The MTA is considering whether the declare a fiscal emergency which would allow the agency to forgo environmental reviews for the proposed changes and expediate the service modification process.

Among the changes and modifications being proposed by MUNI under the three options:

• Elimination of lines 4-Sutter, 7-Haight, 16AX Noriega “A” Express, 20-Columbus, 26-Valencia, 74X-Culture Bus
• Curtailing service on part of lines N-Judah, 1-California, 2-Clement, 10-Townsend, 18-46th Avenue, 29-Sunset, 36-Teresita, 38-Geary, 39-Coit Tower, 41-Union, 88-BART Shuttle, 108-Treasure Island
• Service levels could potentially be bolstered on a select number of routes including the 5-Fulton, 19-Polk, 6-Parnassus and 71-Haight/Noriega to compensate for cuts to other lines.

Service hours could also be impacted by the most severe level of service cuts: the agency has proposed ending service on “Community Service” lines by 8:30 p.m. most nights and stop service on all non-owl routes by midnight.

Many of the proposed changes reflect recommendations issued by the Transit Effectiveness Project, an extensive review of the transit system that sought to find ways to improve efficiency on the system.

It is unclear whether the cuts in service will impact the TEP’s suggestions for bolstering of service on key routes that haul more than half of the system’s 700,000 daily passengers.

Also on the table, and likely to be approved by the MTA Board: fare hikes affecting every rider on the MUNI system. The base fare for Adults would go up from $1.50 to $2.00, with Seniors/ Children and Disabled passengers paying $0.75 for a ride. Monthly Fast Pass prices for passengers would cost $60 for Adults and $20 for the discounted pass starting Jan. 2010.

A slew of other fees and surcharges, including a $0.50 per transfer charge, is being considered by the board in closing the deficit gap. There is also a proposal to eliminate upwards of 370 employees with the agency that would save $32 million annually and implement a one-day furlough every month that amounts to $24.4 million in savings.

The MTA is encouraging all MUNI passengers and stakeholders to speak out about the proposed changes at upcoming Board Meetings and through other venues before the changes are implemented.

An upcoming MTA meeting to discuss the proposals is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 200 at San Francisco City Hall. A final decision on fare hikes, service cuts and other revenue generating measures will be sent to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors for approval by April 30.

E-mail Tim Jue at californiabeat@gmail.com. Join the California Beat on Facebook, and get breaking news headlines, story alerts and previews when you follow us on Twitter.

Contact MUNI with your comments:

E-mail: sfmtabudget@sfmta.com
Telephone: 311 or TTY 415.701.2323
Facsimile: 415.701.4502
U.S. Mail: SFMTA Board of Directors, One South Van Ness Avenue, 7th
Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94103

Read More about the Proposed Changes: Download this PDF (via StreetsBlog SF)