REPORT: MUNI MORE EFFICIENT THAN PEER AGENCIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 26, 2026Contact: press@strongermuniforall.comFindings Underscore Need to Protect Service and Prevent Cuts
SAN FRANCISCO — A new report from SPUR finds that Muni is one of the most productive and high-performing transit systems in the country, consistently outperforming peer agencies across key measures of ridership recovery, efficiency, and cost effectiveness—even as it faces a looming fiscal crisis that could force major service cuts. The report concludes that “Muni has consistently performed well, meeting or exceeding the average performance of similarly sized peer agencies across the country” and identifies the system as “one of the most productive transit systems in the country.”
“Muni is already outperforming its peers and delivering more service more efficiently for the people who rely on it most,” said Kat Siegal, proponent of the Stronger Muni for All initiative. “That’s why San Franciscans are coming together to save Muni and our city from devastating cuts.”
SPUR’s analysis shows that Muni delivers more passengers per hour than nearly all of its peers and that ridership has recovered faster than other major systems following the pandemic. According to the report, “SFMTA’s business metrics point to a well-managed agency that has effectively navigated a turbulent and difficult period for transit. As voters prepare to consider new funding measures, these metrics should reassure them that their investment will support a well-used and well-run system.”
Over the past year, Muni has demonstrated both fiscal responsibility and operational improvements. Reforms have generated nearly $137 million in ongoing annual savings, including eliminating more than 500 vacant positions, consolidating operations, reducing unnecessary management positions, and improving efficiency to help buses move faster and more reliably.
The SPUR report notes that while Muni’s costs are higher than some peer systems, those costs have grown more slowly than average and are offset by exceptional productivity, resulting in a lower cost per rider than many comparable systems.
Despite Muni’s strong performance, the report highlights a projected budget deficit that could grow to more than $400 million annually by 2030. Those cuts would put core transit service at risk if additional funding is not secured, including the elimination of up to 20 routes and wait times that could double.
Designed to be fair and affordable, and paired with a regional transportation measure on the same ballot, Stronger Muni for All would prevent these devastating cuts. The measure creates a modest parcel tax, with 95% of single-family homes paying $129 annually, while renters in rent-controlled units pay no more than $65. Large property owners and corporations pay more. It would generate approximately $160 million per year to keep Muni safe, reliable, and affordable, with strict oversight including independent financial reviews and a citizens’ oversight committee.
To learn more about the campaign to save Muni, click HERE.