S.F. Mayor Lee proposes 10 percent increase in transit service

San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee's proposed budget for the next two years would increase service for one of the city's transit systems by 10 percent, staffers from Lee's office announced earlier this week.

The increase is designed to address crowding and reliability issues facing the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

The budget provides an extra $48.1 million in funding for SFMTA, which would go toward the hiring of 244 new drivers, mechanics and maintenance staff to support the service increase.

The FY 2015-16 budget also allots $320 million for new rolling stock in the agency's fleet, according to the proposed budget document.

"Addressing our affordability challenges continues to be my top priority," Lee wrote in the budget's executive summary.

To that end, the city also would offer free SFMTA rides for income-qualified youth, seniors and people with disabilities.