Partially restored transportation budgets in San Francisco and the Bay Area put buses and trains back at the top of the news agenda this week.
The Municipal Transportation Agency plans to gradually roll back this year’s budget cuts by July 2011, and BART is still contemplating how it should use an unexpected operating budget surplus of $18.4 million.
On Thursday the San Francisco Chronicle reported on an agreement between Muni and its unions that would save the transportation agency more than $18 million. The agreement entails concessions from train operators that is the equivalent to giving up a raise. It has yet to be voted on and accepted by the rank and file.
If approved, the 55 percent of service that was eliminated in the beginning of May would be restored by Sept. 4, and all service by July 2011. Seeing what the Muni operators have to lose, Mayor Gavin Newsom, told the Chronicle: “They have a lot at stake. I don’t expect to see what we saw with the last tentative agreement.”
- a temporary fee rollback
- maintenance and facility upkeep
- saving the money