The price of MUNI monthly passes will increase later this year in an effort by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency to bridge last year's $80 million budget gap.

Adult monthly passes will increase on July 1 from $45 to $55 a month and discounted passes for youth, seniors and the disabled will increase from $10 to $15 monthly, according to officials from SFMTA.

The agency's governing board will vote later this month to decide additional fare increases. If passed, adult fares will increase from $1.50 to $2, discounted fares will increase to 75 cents and Fast Passes, both adult and discounted, will increase an additional $5.

"Our Board of Directors will have to face a very difficult decision this month because of the size of our deficit," said SFMTA spokesman Judson True.

At the end of this past fiscal year, SFMTA found itself with an $80 million deficit, according to True. As a matter of saving cost, the agency will be increasing the cost of MUNI fares and passes, as well as fee increases for traffic permits. The next fiscal year, which begins on July 1, is projected to have a deficit of nearly $129 million.

SFMTA has no choice but to introduce these cost saving measures, True said. A lot of revenue was lost due to the recession, as both state and federal governments had to decide where to cut costs, he said.

"The state of California abandoned its commitment to public transportation," he said.

SF State students said they are not pleased with the new increases in public transit costs.

"It's f-----g ridiculous is what that is," said SF State student Yael Tygiel, who doesn't own a monthly pass. "Weren't they just talking about making it free?"

Indeed, a few years ago Gavin Newsom spoke briefly about making MUNI free, arguing that the cost of counting the fares actually equaled the money they added to MUNI's funds.

Tygiel, 22, doesn't have to take public transit to school because she lives in the Villas Parkmerced, but she does--when feeling particularly lazy--take the 17 to the other side of the residential area to her parents' house.

"I won't be taking the 17 any more. I used to just scrounge around for the change, now I actually have to have $2," said Tygiel, a communications major.

Though still concerned about the cost, SF State student Sheena Miraftabi, 19, is also concerned about the environment.

"I'm positive there will be a decline in people taking public transit and that's sad," she said.
"My biggest concern is how that will affect the masses of people in SF who depend on MUNI," Miraftabi said. "Not everyone will be able to afford it."

Fare increases will not generate new revenue for the transit company, but merely go towards making up for last year's $80 million short fall, said True.

Monthly pass increases will generate an estimated $15.2 million annually for last year's deficit and, if approved, the additional fare increases will also add an estimated $14 million.

SFMTA is sensitive to the displeasure expressed by MUNI riders.

"No one is happy about the need and potential need to increase fares," True said. "We hope people will still be able to ride transit."