Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: Discounted Muni Passes

A Muni rider was recently ticketed for using a youth fast pass when he, technically, should have used an adult fast pass. The difference in price between the two passes is $35. The difference in age was 12 days.

Although this rider was still in high school, his change in age to 18 warranted an adult fast pass. The maximum age for the youth fast pass is 17. This rider's socioeconomic status certainly didn't change once he turned 18.

In fact, the typical profile of a young adult (ages 18-24) shows that he or she is most likely a low wage worker with no benefits and no longer is his parents' dependent. Therefore, the young adult is no longer eligible for any benefits under his parents, and is no longer eligible for local social services or arts programs for youth. A young adult may be saddled with school loans even before entering an entry-level position in the workforce.

For some, transportation costs can exceed 35 percent of their income. These inequities, along with the need to increase Muni's ridership, have led me to pursue the development of a discounted Muni pass for riders aged 18 to 24.

Young adults are 16.5 percent of the Muni ridership and most economically-disadvantaged 18 to 24 year olds are dependent on public transportation to conduct and fulfill their responsibilities. What is the importance of making public transit accessible to young adults?

Increased access and mobility are key issues for the emerging needs and lifestyles of our young adults. As their job opportunities and housing options become more widespread and personal responsibilities more extensive, young adults need increased support. Besides the socio-economic issues, the need to change attitudes and behaviors regarding public transit use is important.

Young adults may become life-long public transit riders. A recent study conducted by the National Center for Transit Research found that "travel habits developed at a young age could influence subsequent behavior, and that those who were not regular transit users as young people were less likely to be transit users in adult life."

What is the importance of having life-long public transit users? Public transit users impact the City's quality of life. Collectively, young adults as a group have an opportunity to affect their environment and protect their health. Increasing public transit ridership is another way to reduce greenhouse gases, reduce run-off from paved surfaces that degrade our oceans and water supply, and lower annual emissions of the pollutants that create smog. According to the American Public Transportation Association, public transportation reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 7.7 million tons a year.

An increase in ridership also means an improvement in the quality of life in terms of reducing traffic congestion and reducing parking spillover problems in high-density areas. This means less travel time for both Muni and car drivers. Life-long transit users also mean increased revenues for Muni from stable sources.

Once young adults "age-out" of the discount, Muni can expect to have more riders in the long term and a consistent increase in revenues. A discounted program can reduce a transit agency's costs and budget uncertainties by diversifying the agency's revenue sources and by providing the agency with annual guaranteed revenue, such as increased discount pass revenues, independent of other fluctuating revenue sources.

For example, the amount of full cash fare trips taken can become an increase in the amount of fast pass trips taken, a more stable source of revenue. Increased ridership also means that the City may not need to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on roadway related costs, such as traffic enforcement and road repair. It saves the City money.

This discounted pass effort echoes our City's current policy to increase access to public transportation, especially for those groups that are socio-economically vulnerable. The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging BART to allow the use of discounted Fast Passes for seniors and people with disabilities. The MTA's Citizen's Advisory Council passed a resolution urging the same for youth discount fast passes on BART.

And the Board of Supervisors also passed a resolution urging the MTA to develop fare-free transit partnerships with local colleges and universities. It is established local policy to increase access to public transportation and to make public transportation a viable option for local residents.

A hearing to discuss various options for discounted Muni passes for young adults will be held at the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee hearing at City Hall, Room 263, on Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. Public comment is welcome. For more information, please contact my office at 554-7410.

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.