MTC Hears Support For Plan To Provide Free Rides To Low-Income Youth On Muni

OAKLAND (KCBS)—The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) did not take a vote, but did discuss a plan Wednesday to help fund a 22-month pilot program that would start in August and provide free Muni service for low-income youth. Muni has asked the MTC for $5 million of the $9.4 million needed to fund the program.

San Francisco Supervisor and MTC Commissioner David Campos said the city is a logical place to see how the plan would work.

"We have half of the riders in the region and we have about 42 percent of low-income riders. I think that San Francisco is a good candidate to try this out," Campos said.

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty was among several commissioners who voiced concern at the commission's headquarters in Oakland about "piece mealing" regional dollars.

"As it stands today, I would not vote for it. I do think we need a nine Bay Area county plan. I don't think we need one that works for just a certain county," Haggerty said.

All 12 speakers during the public comment period supported the plan. Most of them were youth advocates in San Francisco.

The staff told commissioners Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority also wants $4.6 million for a similar program, but that the commission only has about half the carry-over funds to cover both requests.

The MTC staff will make a recommendation to commissioners in June.

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