On the San Francisco Ballot: $400MM Muni Bond

The proposed Muni bond would focus on “maintaining the system’s equipment and facilities, providing quick and convenient transit access, ensuring Muni service is inclusive and accessible for all, and making street safety improvements for people walking and biking,” according the Office of San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Feb. 15 voted to place a $400 million Muni Reliability and Street Safety Bond on the June 2022 ballot; the measure requires 2/3 voter approval, according to the mayor’s office.

The bond would focus on “maintaining the system’s equipment and facilities, providing quick and convenient transit access, ensuring Muni [San Francisco Municipal Railway] service is inclusive and accessible for all, and making street safety improvements for people walking and biking,” according the Office of Mayor London Breed, who proposed it.  

It is based on Muni’s infrastructure needs as well as priorities identified in the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) community survey conducted in Spring 2021. Additionally, it follows through on recommendations made by the 2013 Mayor’s Transportation Task Force and the 2018 Transportation Task Force that dedicated two General Obligation (GO) Bonds for transportation, the Office of the Mayor reported; the first $500 million GO Bond for transportation was passed in 2014, with all bond dollars issued to date.

The Muni Reliability and Street Safety Bond is slated to invest in:
• “Repairing, upgrading and maintaining aging facilities and equipment to speed up repairs and keep transit moving.
• “Funding on-street infrastructure improvements that will result in faster, more reliable, and more frequent Muni service.
• “Modernizing the 20-year-old Muni train control system to increase subway capacity, reduce delays and deliver dependable, high-frequency transit.
• “Improving safety and visibility at intersections.
• “Redesigning streets and sidewalks to strengthen walking, bicycling, and Muni connections along major corridors.
• “Implementing traffic calming and speed reductions tools to reduce collisions.”

“We are thankful to the Board of Supervisors for placing the General Obligation Bond Resolution on the upcoming June 2022 ballot,” SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin said. “In order to compete for upcoming federal infrastructure funds, we need a local match. The bond helps ensure San Francisco is ready to receive federal grants to upgrade our aging infrastructure and improve street safety, transit accessibility and Muni service. It is our hope that the voters will support and approve our commitment in providing safe, frequent and reliable service.”

The Board of Supervisors on April 30, 2021 adopted the city’s 10-Year Capital Plan, which includes 2022 GO transportation funding. “Published every odd year, the 10-Year Capital Plan is a fiscally constrained expenditure plan that lays out infrastructure investments over the next decade,” according to the Office of the Mayor.

“The city’s first capital plan was introduced in 2006 as a way to identify and assess our vast public infrastructure needs and to create long-term plans to address those needs,” City Administrator Carmen Chu said. “This $400 million bond is the next critical investment in our city’s transportation backbone. There is no question we all need a well-maintained and robust public transportation system to support our economy and lives.”