The recent recession of 2008-2010 hit Bay Area transit agencies’ balance sheets like an express train.
But raising fares and reducing service was not a recipe for long-term success.
So MTC undertook a two-year Transit Sustainability Project to help the agencies:
- Improve their financial positions
- Improve customer service
- Attract new riders
Transit Performance Initiative
The project spurred adoption of MTC’s Transit Performance Initiative, which included:
- Investment to speed service on key San Francisco Muni, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit DIstrict and Santa Clara VTA routes
- Incentives for transit agencies to boost productivity and increase ridership
Download our report and get more facts on the project, our recommendations, financial findings, performance measures and more.
Frequent rail service and local bus connections are common in the Bay Area.
Find out how much transit costs have increased when you visit our data goldmine, Vital Signs.
Initial Transit Performance Initiative funding was used to support projects for improving travel speeds on these systems:
- AC Transit — Line 51 corridor speed protection and restoration
- San Francisco Muni — Bus stop consolidation and roadway modifications
- San Francisco Muni — Maximize Mission Street mobility
- San Francisco Muni — Maximize N Judah mobility
- Santa Clara VTA — Light-rail transit signal priority improvement
- Santa Clara VTA — Stevens Creek Line 323 transit signal priority
We found that Bay Area transit agencies’ base wages are not out of line with national peers; and that efforts to reduce operating costs would be more effective targeting:
- Fringe benefits
- Work rules and business models
- Administrative costs
