Why the SFMTA doesn’t need more money
The SFMTA has been accumulating larger and larger sections of the San Francisco budget, despite the decrease in ridership and the slowing of traffic beyond what is safe. Here are the facts.
Total expenditure actuals increased 45% since FY14-15. Ridership decreased 25%
These compare with inflation of 35% (compounded) and city-wide negotiated wage increases 34% (compounded).
FY25-26 Operating Budget Revenue:
- 30% revenue generated by the SFMTA
- 70% revenue from external sources
The projected deficit is $322M in FY26-27
“San Francisco’s roads remain as deadly as they were two decades ago, despite the efforts of the Vision Zero program to eliminate fatalities” - SF Standard
“Excess revenue [from tickets] will pay for traffic calming measures in San Francisco” - SF Standard
San Francisco Election History for Transportation
Proposition L (November 2022)
“…continuing an existing one-half cent sales tax through 2053 for transportation project funding and allowing the Transportation Authority to issue up to $1.91 billion in bonds for transportation projects.”
Proposition J (November 2016)
“…and create[d] a Transportation Improvement Fund, which would be used to improve the City’s transportation network by allocating $101.6 million per year for 24 years, adjusted annually.”
Proposition A (November 2014)
“…authorized the city to borrow $500 million through issuing general obligation bonds in order to meet some of the transportation infrastructure needs of the city.”
“… allowed the city to impose property taxes to repay the bonds.”
Proposition B (November 2014)
“Proposition B amended the San Francisco Charter to require the city to increase the base contribution to the [SFMTA] by a percentage equal to the city's annual population increase, taking into account daytime and nighttime populations. “