San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

1 minute read

May 21, 2025, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

Walter Cicchetti / Adobe Stock

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni) is raising its fare prices starting July 1, reports James Salazar in the San Francisco Examiner.

“The price hikes are not as large as those that took effect Jan. 1. A one-way adult ride for Clipper card or MuniMobile users will rise 10 cents to $2.85, while single rides for seniors, adults with disabilities and low-income residents using Clipper START will increase 5 cents to $1.40. Adult day passes are increasing from $5.50 to $5.70, while single-ride cable-car tickets are rising from $8 to $9,” according to Salazar.

The change is part of the agency’s 2025 and 2026 budgets as it struggles to close a projected $240 million budget deficit for FY 2026 and 2027. “The SFMTA will also reduce Muni service on a handful of lines starting June 21 as part of a cost-saving measure. Several bus lines will turn back around once they hit Market Street.”

The agency’s ridership has been steadily rising since the pandemic, reaching 75 percent of 2019 ridership as of March of this year, but service cuts and fare hikes could impede its resurgence.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in San Francisco Examiner

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360