Rescue Muni

The SFMTA will be holding another meeting and public hearing on the budget deficit and proposed fare increases/service cuts on Tuesday, April 21, at 2 pm, at City Hall, room 400. We urge everyone who can attend (of course it is scheduled during the work day) to comment on the proposals.

In addition to opposing the inflated “work orders” from the various city departments that are now being contested (thank you Sup. Dufty!), Rescue Muni has some specific recommendations:

Concerning the Work Orders, we have several objections:

We also suggest that MTA consider the following proposals for long term improvements:

If you attend, comment here or let us know on Twitter!

“Through Feb. 20, the transit agency paid out $29.6 million in overtime, or about 96 percent of what it had budgeted for payments this fiscal year, according to the latest data.”

Ken McDonald ominously stated that reducing service and cutting lines will solve the overtime budget overrun.

If you’re stuck at work or out watching the Giants, you can still comment on the MTA’s proposed service cuts and the proposed budget. Details on how to comment are on the MTA’s website. (Also, don’t forget tomorrow’s hearing about the “work orders” from SFPD and others that have mysteriously consumed ALL of the additional funding from Prop A!)

Here’s a suggested comment: Don’t just make the TEP cuts. The TEP proposed many revenue-neutral changes that would SPEED UP service (mainly stop consolidations and bus lanes/bulbs to give transit priority.) There’s no reason to wait fot these!

If you’re concerned about the proposed MTA service cuts due to the budget crisis, plan to attend one of two hearings this week. The SFMTA is holding a hearing on the cuts on Tuesday, April 7, unfortunately during the Giants’ Opening Day – but there is a meeting scheduled two weeks later, on April 21, when you can also submit comments.

As or more important is a hearing at the Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee, on Wednesday, April 8 at 1:30 pm. At this meeting the Supervisors will be asking city officials about the suspiciously large work orders submitted by various city departments to the SFMTA, including a huge increase from SFPD, this fiscal year. (When did you last see a cop ride a Muni bus, or pull over a bus lane violator? Comment on that at this meeting.) One of the major causes of service cuts is this $28 million per year increase in other-department work orders, which has almost completely consumed the increase in funding passed by the voters in Proposition A (2007). If you don’t think Muni is getting good value for the millions of additional dollars being billed it by SFPD and other departments, speak out at the meeting!

Update: The Examiner has a good summary of possible cuts.

Join us for our spring General Membership Meeting on Monday, March 30, at 6 pm, to learn about the budget problems facing the Municipal Transportation Agency and the effect the budget deficit is likely to have on your commute. We have invited Sonali Bose of the MTA Director’s office to discuss the budget and take your questions.

Also, we will have an update on the Transbay Terminal project, California High Speed Rail, and possible stimulus package funding from Emilio Cruz of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (and former Municipal Railway Director). Come with your tough questions on this critical regional transportation project.

The meeting is on Monday, March 30 at 6 pm at SPUR, 312 Sutter (at Grant), 5th floor. Refreshments will be served. See you there!