Milestones include:
- Weekend ridership reached 97% of 2019 levels—SFMTA’s highest weekend numbers since the pandemic began.
- An average of 521,000 weekday trips—up 21,000 trips from May 2024.
- Overall ridership reached 79% of pre-pandemic levels.
- 14.4 million boardings delivered for the month across the system.
The agency says it attributes the increase in weekend ridership to warm weather and recreational activities such as concerts, sporting events, night markets, parks, and museums.
Even with many residents working hybrid schedules, SFMTA says it continues to serve a strong base of weekday riders. Programs like Fix-It Week is one way the agency is making the system more reliable. This preventative maintenance work is paying off, the agency noted. In May, the Market Street Subway experienced fewer delays, “a reflection of targeted infrastructure upgrades and operational adjustments.”
Since May 2019 in the Market Street Subway, moderate delays are down 49%, while long delays are down 69%, SFMTA reported.
Despite these successes, the agency is facing a deficit of more than $320 million starting July 2026, as all the funding sources that were relied on in the past are down since the pandemic.
“Thanks to agency cost saving and efficiency measures, this deficit is $100 million less than it otherwise could have been,” SFMTA said.
But without new funding, the agency says it will be forced to cut about a third of service.
“To protect the transportation services San Francisco depends on, our agency is working closely with elected officials, labor partners and community members to secure new long-term funding at the regional, state and local levels.
“As we work to find long-term solutions, we will continue to make progress every day to offer you the best service we can,” SFMTA said.
