San Francisco’s public transit system, Muni, reached its highest monthly ridership since the pandemic this October. More than 15 million people boarded buses and trains across the city, showing strong signs that riders are returning.
October Marks a Major Comeback for Muni
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) reported an average of 538,000 weekday trips in October. This growth comes as students returned to school and more employees headed back to offices.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Gives a Big Boost
One major factor behind the surge was the popular Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, held from October 3 to 5 in Golden Gate Park. During those three days, Muni saw packed buses — especially on the 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, and 7 Haight/Noriega lines.
The festival weekend brought in 90,000 more trips to the park compared with the same weekend last year, making it one of the biggest ridership boosts of 2025.
Muni Still Faces Serious Budget Troubles
Even with rising ridership, Muni is struggling with a huge financial challenge. The agency is dealing with a $307 million yearly budget deficit, which could grow to $434 million within five years. To address this gap, local and regional officials are pushing for two new tax measures to support the transit system.
Why the Ridership Growth Matters
According to SFMTA spokesperson Parisa Safarzadeh, the increasing number of riders is a strong sign of San Francisco’s recovery. She said the agency is encouraged to see more people choosing Muni for daily travel.
Ridership Recovery Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Even with October’s success, Muni hasn’t fully returned to the levels it had before COVID-19. The latest numbers show a 79% recovery compared to pre-2020 ridership. Still, the agency believes the steady growth is a positive trend.
Conclusion
Muni’s October ridership milestone shows that public transit is becoming a key part of San Francisco life again. Festivals, school reopening, and office commutes all helped fuel the rebound. However, financial challenges remain, and upcoming tax measures may play a major role in shaping the future of the city’s transit system.
