oof thanks for raising this

thanks! @fernkhahn.com great concept! I've passed along to @rideact.bsky.social staff.

Great mock up of how we can more clearly communicate. I've shared your observations and suggestions with staff.

Yes, IF we are not able to grow our coalition by 1 additional board member to support directing staff to analyze more equitable alternatives to the approved July 1, 2026 increase to $3. It's over a year away: let's organize and educate about the benefits of a progressive approach.

My full statement on the Proposed Fare Increase and the Dire Financial Situation is here: www.sarahfortransit.com/2019-fare-in...

So -- I urge my fellow Board Members to vote, as we did last year, to reject this unvetted and outdated proposal and instead reaffirm our direction to staff to start the process from the beginning, complete with community outreach and engagement. The time is always right to do what is right.

The Board has no discretion to make changes to the 2019 plan as changes trigger a requirement for public hearings and a new equity analysis. Yet, what the staff is recommending is implementing a 20% increase 3.5 months from now instead of small, incremental increases over 4 yrs as approved in 2019.

We can grow revenue by increasing ridership. In 2023, the Board decided to not raise fares, and riders generated an additional $2.7 million increase in additional revenue above what staff had projected.

We can apply an equity lens and still deliver new revenue. For example, through a process similar to what I am recommending, SFMTA estimated it could generate $5.2 million annually by eliminating the Clipper discount implemented 10 years ago.

I stand by and reaffirm my vote last year to direct staff to initiate a process for revising/re-evaluating fare pricing. Unfortunately this didn’t happen and we are back to being asked to vote on an even worse proposal.

We simply do not have enough information about the potential impacts to riders and AC Transit to go ahead with this decision today. Increasing fares to $3.00 — among the highest in the country — would impose an unjust burden on low-income riders who have no other transportation option.