SFMTA's fare evasion crackdown Is it paying off amid financial crisis? Here's a look at numbers

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has significantly ramped up its efforts to catch fare evaders, with inspectors now engaging with twice as many passengers compared to last year. A report slated for release on April 15 indicates that fare evasion reached an alarming 30% in July 2024, prompting the agency to hire additional transit fare inspectors. Since then, SFMTA has reported an 86% increase in inspections per hour and nearly doubled the overall productivity of inspectors. While riders like Vivien Salayou affirm their commitment to paying fares, others express skepticism about the effectiveness of these inspections. Critics argue that the current measures primarily target those who may have simply forgotten to reload their fare cards.

Nonetheless, SFMTA insists that every fare collected is vital for maintaining Muni services, which rely on fares for 7% of their budget. The agency’s visible presence aims to reinforce the importance of fare compliance among riders. As financial pressures mount, SFMTA's crackdown on fare evasion appears to be a critical strategy in ensuring sustainable transit operations.