(This has been updated to add a third endangered bus line)
The San Francisco Chronicle reported today that, due to the extreme financial crisis precipitated by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting decline in Muni ridership, up to 20 of the least-used bus lines might be scrapped as soon as this summer. Those include the 35-Eureka, the 36-Teresita and the 23-Monterey, three lines that serve Glen Park and adjacent neighborhoods.
Jeffrey Tumlin, Director of SFMTA, is in negotiations with the state for subsidies for mass transit to help cover a $130 million deficit projected for 2025. It’s a tricky time because of the state budget deficit of $31 billion. Without state help MUNI will have to implement a hiring freeze and shrink its day-to-day service as well as capital projects.
The bus lines singled out due to declining ridership include the 33-Ashbury at the top, with 4,600 in average weekday ridership, the 23-Monterey with 1,700, the 36-Teresita with 500, and the 35-Eureka dead last on the list with 200.