San Francisco MTA to expand Muni rail service

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) board on Tuesday approved a 7 percent increase in Municipal Railway (Muni) service, one of several measures aimed at improving rail service and access to transportation in the city.

The measure includes free Muni rides for moderate to low-income seniors and people with disabilities; additional funding for transit vehicle cleanliness; and the elimination of telephone and online computer transaction fees, SFMTA officials said in a press release.

A grant from Google Inc. enabled the board to approve continuation of free Muni service for low and moderate income youth through fiscal-year 2016. The board approved the program to include seniors and those with disabilities to take effect March 1.

The 7 percent increase in Muni service follows a 3 percent increase for the current fiscal year. The service increases are part of Muni Forward, a plan to evaluate and improve the city's mass transit service.