By Jerrold Chinn, SF Public Press
Youth advocates, parents and San Francisco Supervisor David Campos are calling for free Muni fast passes for youth between the ages of 5 to 17. Currently they have to pay 75 cents for a single fare and $21 for a monthly pass.
Campos said free passes would help San Francisco families struggling during this tough economy. “We’ve heard from many parents the difficulties they are facing in paying for a monthly pass for Muni for their children,” said Campos at Tuesday’s San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting.
Campos introduced a resolution to explore the possibility of giving out free fast passes to all youth. Before the board meeting, advocates from the activist group People Organized to Win Employment Rights appeared before the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s board of directors and held a rally outside the steps of City Hall calling for the free fast passes.
Muni Chief Reiskin said he and staff have been discussing the proposal with Campos, the school district and mayor’s office.
Reiskin said the free fast passes for all youth would roughly cost the agency $7 million annually. The figure was from budget analyst Harvey Rose. The agency is currently facing a $23 million deficit.
The agency has $1.4 million in funds for reduced youth fares, which has been put on hold because of the free fast pass discussion. Reiskin said the money from there could go into the funding of free passes.
“The city of New York has already led the way in and is providing transportation to its youth. The city of Portland is doing that as well. And why shouldn’t we here in the City and County of San Francisco, a city that knows how make things happen take this effort as a challenge,” said Campos.
The transit agency’s board of directors will discuss free youth fast passes at its Oct. 18 meeting at 1 p.m. at City Hall, Room 400.
