San Francisco's Muni network has shown a notable rebound in ridership, reaching 75% of 2019 figures, according to the latest data announced by Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). The city's public transportation system recorded 158 million passenger trips in 2024, marking an upswing of 13.5 million trips from the previous year, as reported by the City and County of San Francisco. The numbers attest to the city's gradual economic resurgence, with an enhanced focus on cleanliness, safety, and reliable service.
Mayor Lurie remarked that such increases in utility underscore the city's commitment to providing crucial transport links to its inhabitants. "The increase in Muni ridership demonstrates that when we get the basics right on service delivery people will want to take public transit," Lurie noted, as per the City and County of San Francisco. The report highlighted that weekday boardings climbed to an average of 486,000 while weekend statistics peaked at 318,000, marking a considerable rise from 2023 levels.
In addition to a progressive ridership trend, the Muni network is facing challenges. The transportation entity is staring down a substantial budget deficit that could grow significantly over the next few years due to the exhaustion of one-time federal and state relief funds. This funding predicament has propelled the city into action, with Mayor Lurie appointing new leaders such as Kirschbaum and Alfonso Felder to the SFMTA's Board of Directors. State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín have also engaged at regional levels to bolster efforts in securing lasting solutions for transportation funding.
With San Francisco slated to host several large-scale events, including the Superbowl LX and the 2026 World Cup, Muni's ridership is projected to continue its upward trajectory. These gatherings, coupled with corporate expansions by OpenAI and Databricks, serve as potential catalysts for further enhancing the city's public transportation demand. Muni is strategically positioning itself, as Senator Wiener lauded, echoing the collective sentiment aimed at fortifying an already improving public transit system for the future of the city. "We can build on these improvements by securing sustainable long-term funding for MUNI," Wiener said, as relayed by the City and County of San Francisco.
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