Bay Area Transit Agencies Seek New Funding Amid Ridership Gains

BART and Muni see strong recovery, but long-term deficits loom without new revenue sources

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:52pm by Ben Kaplan

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Bay Area transit agencies like BART and Muni have seen significant ridership gains in recent months, with BART reporting its highest single-day ridership since the pandemic in February 2026. However, the agencies are facing looming budget deficits that could lead to service cuts if new funding sources aren't secured, prompting efforts to pass ballot measures for a regional sales tax and a Muni-specific parcel tax in November 2026.

Why it matters

Reliable and robust public transit is essential for the Bay Area's economic and environmental well-being, connecting workers to jobs, reducing car dependency and emissions, and supporting the region's recovery from the pandemic. The potential service cuts would be a major setback, impacting both transit riders and the broader community.

The details

BART saw a 13% year-over-year increase in total trips in February 2026, reaching 4.5 million. Average weekday ridership was up 11%, while Saturdays saw a 27% jump, reflecting increased demand for events, entertainment, and weekend travel. Muni is also experiencing a strong rebound, but the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) faces a projected operating deficit that could rise from $307 million in fiscal year 2026–2027 to $434 million by 2030. To address this, the agency is relying on the passage of two ballot measures in November 2026: a five-county regional sales tax and a parcel tax specifically for Muni operations.

  • BART had its highest single-day ridership since the pandemic on February 5, 2026.
  • SFMTA's projected operating deficit could rise from $307 million in fiscal year 2026–2027 to $434 million by 2030.

The players

BART

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system, a major public transportation network serving the San Francisco Bay Area.

Muni

The San Francisco Municipal Railway, the public transit system operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

San Francisco Transit Riders

A nonprofit advocacy group that supports and promotes public transit in San Francisco.

Dylan Fabris

A representative of the San Francisco Transit Riders.

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)

The agency responsible for managing public transportation, streets, and taxis in San Francisco.

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What they’re saying

“We know that public transit is essential to the Bay Area, and it's great to see evidence supporting that riders are back and our agencies are going above and beyond to meet their needs.”

— Dylan Fabris, Representative, San Francisco Transit Riders

“We need sustainable long-term funding to preserve that progress and make transit even better for more people in the Bay Area.”

— Dylan Fabris, Representative, San Francisco Transit Riders

What’s next

Activists are redoubling signature-gathering efforts to get the two ballot initiatives for a regional sales tax and a Muni-specific parcel tax qualified and on the November 2026 ballot.

The takeaway

The strong rebound in public transit ridership in the Bay Area underscores its importance, but the agencies face significant financial challenges that could lead to service cuts without new funding sources. Passing the proposed ballot measures will be crucial to maintaining and improving transit services for the region's residents and economy.