The proposed cuts - Summer 2025

There are three proposals for potential cuts that are meant to fill $15m of this year’s $50m budget shortfall. Without additional funding we will have a $322M budget shortfall (and many more cuts!) in 2026.

Scenario 1: Suspend lower-ridership routes

Eliminate service: 

  • 2 Sutter

  • 6 Haight

  • 21 Hayes

  • 31 Balboa

  • 55 Dogpatch

Modify routes:

  • Terminate 19 Polk at Geary (no service north of Geary Street)

  • Extend 52 Excelsior over Sunset Heights (substitute for suspended 6)

  • Extend 66 Quintara over Parnassus (substitute for suspended 6)

Reduce hours:

  • Reduce Metro (J, K, L, M, N, T) to 7am-10pm (currently 5am - midnight)

  • End 35, 36, 37, 52, 56, 57, 58, 66, 67 at 7pm (most of these lines currently run until 10pm)

Scenario 2: Reduce frequencies

Reduce frequency - buses will only come every 30-45 minutes:

  • Routes 35, 36, 37, 39, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 66, 67

Shift service from Local to Rapid routes, reducing overall stop coverage:

  • Eliminate the 5 Fulton, 9 San Bruno, and 28 19th Avenue local service

  • Decrease service on 14 Mission and 38 Geary to run every 16 minutes

  • Increase frequency of 5R, 9R, 14R to run every 8 minutes

  • 28R assumes previous route of the 28 local and runs every 8 minutes

Scenario 3: Reduce overall service and frequency to prioritize Equity Neighborhoods

Suspend service:

  • 2 Sutter

  • 21 Hayes

  • 55 Dogpatch

Modify service:

  • 31 Balboa terminates at Civic Center (eliminating service past Market Street to SoMa and Caltrain)

Reduce frequency:

  • 35, 36, 37, 39, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 66, 67 to only run every 30-45 minutes

Shift service from Local to Rapid routes, reducing overall number of stops:

  • Suspend 28 19th Avenue local service

  • 28R assumes previous 28 route and runs every 8 minutes