San Francisco Municipal Railway
Muni provides transit service within San Francisco
Here is where the real content about Muni starts. The description box to the left should be sort of a quick hit thing, basic standard information.
This page is also just about Muni as a transit service, it's lines, stations and vehicles. Muni as an agency no longer exists and that information goes on the SFMTA page.
Contents
Use cases
what does someone coming to this page about an agency need?
- If they are here looking for how to get to a specific destination we should send them to trip planning info
- If they need to know how to ride Muni, we should create a separate page for:
- Identifying the stops and vehicles
- Fare payment options and process
- Getting off the vehicle
- Need to know what kind of transit services it provides and where it serves
- Need to know where to get live help and/or to submit complaints
- Phone numbers and other contacts for customer service
- Citizen's Advisory Committee
- Board of Directors
Transit Services
Muni operates various transit services with a diverse fleet of vehicle types:
Local bus
Muni provides basic local bus service in most parts of San Francisco. Many lines are operated with diesel and hybrid electric buses, while other lines are operated with electric trolley buses. Most local bus routes have stops approximately one to three city blocks apart.
All Muni local bus routes have a number and a name. (e.g. 1-California)
Owl service
While some local bus routes operate 24 hours a day, 90-Owl and 91-Owl are overnight only bus routes that cover various segments of day-time local bus routes and Muni Metro routes. Also, Muni operates two other overnight only bus routes (L-Owl and N-Owl) that cover their respective Muni Metro routes via surface streets.
Limited-stop bus
In some transit corridors, Muni provides a faster limited-stop service to supplement local bus lines. Most limited-stop routes have stops spaced approximately three to eight city blocks apart outside of downtown. Diesel and hybrid electric buses are used on limited-stop routes.
Limited stop bus routes are identified by a letter L after the route number and the word "limited" after the name. (e.g. 38L-Geary Limited, 14L-Mission Limited)
Express bus
Muni also operates express bus service from various communities to downtown. Almost all express bus routes make local stop in the communities and then operate non-stop along freeways or city streets into downtown. Most express bus routes operate only to downtown on weekday morning and from downtown on weekday afternoon. Only 9X-Bayshore Express runs throughout the day, seven days a week. Diesel and hybrid electric buses are used on express routes.
Express routes are identified by a letter X after the route number and the word "express" after the name. (e.g. 14X-Mission Express)
A & B express buses
Some communities have more than one express routes. One route would cover local stops along an inner portion of the corridor before running non-stop to downtown, and another cover an outer portion of the corridor before operating non-stop. These routes are distinguished by letters AX or BX after the route number. (e.g. 38AX, 38BX)
Special event bus
Muni provides special service to events like 49ers home games and the Bay to Breakers. Muni charges premium fares for these routes.
Muni Metro
See Muni Metro
Historic streetcar
Cable car
See Cable car
Fares
Cash fares for Muni buses, Muni Metro and F-Market & Wharves streetcars
| Adult | $1.50 | Upon payment, a transfer is given (valid for 90 minutes) for free boardings on Muni buses, Muni Metro, and F streetcars. When riding Muni Metro, keep the transfer as proof of payment. |
| Youth (5-17) | $0.50 | |
| Senior (65 or over) | $0.50 | |
| Disabled | $0.50 |
Bus and F streetcar: Board through the front door and pay at the farebox. Exact change required.
Muni Metro above ground: Board at the front end of the train and pay at the farebox. Exact change required. Some stations have ticket vending machines.
Muni Metro subway stations: Pay at the faregate before entering the platform area. The faregates accept coins only. Most stations will either provide coin changers or use BART ticket vending machines to change $1 bills to coins.
Cash fares for cable cars
| Adult | $5.00 | No transfer is given nor accepted. |
| Youth (5-17) | $5.00 | |
| Senior (65 or over) & Disabled: | ||
| 7am-9pm | $5.00 | |
| before 7am and after 9pm | $1.00 | |
| All-Day Passport | $11.00 | Good for all Muni services same day |
Pay the conductor onboard or purchase souvenir cable car tickets from ticket booths located at Powel & Market streets, Bay & Taylor streets, and Hyde & Beach streets.
Monthly passes for all Muni services
| Adult Fast Pass | $45.00 | Also valid on BART for trips within San Francisco (no grace period). |
| Youth Monthly Pass (5-17) | $10.00 | |
| Senior Monthly Pass (65 or over) | $10.00 | |
| Disabled Monthly sticker | $10.00 | To be affixed to a valid Regional Transit Discount card |
| Lifeline Pass | $35.00 | Available only to qualified individuals through SF Human Services Agency. Not valid on cable cars. |
All monthly passes (except Lifeline Pass) can be purchased online at SFgov.org. List of pass vendors is available at: [1]
Other prepaid fares for all Muni services
| Weekly pass (Monday-Sunday) | $15.00 | Require $1 upgrade to ride cable cars |
| 1-Day Passport | $11.00 | |
| 3-Day Passport | $18.00 | |
| 7-Day Passport | $24.00 | |
| Tokens/token coupon booklet | $15.00 (for 10 rides) | Transfer is given with payment by token/token ticket. Require $3.50 upgrade to ride cable cars. |
| Youth 15-ride ticket booklet | $7.50 | Transfer is given with payment by ticket. Available only through Muni. Not valid on cable cars. |
List of ticket vendors is available at: [2]
Inter-agency fare arrangements
BART-to-Muni and Muni-to-BART coupons
When riding BART into or within San Francisco, you may obtain a free two-part coupon inside the BART paid area at any station in San Francisco. The coupon provides two 25 cents discounts on adult fares for Muni buses, Muni Metro and F streetcars. The coupons are not valid on cable cars.
| Adult cash fare with BART-to-Muni coupon | $1.25 | Use this coupon within one hour when transferring from BART. |
| Adult cash fare with Muni-to-BART coupon | $1.25 | Use this coupon within 24 hours. This coupon is NOT accepted when boarding within one block from BART stations. |
When paying, submit the BART-to-Muni or Muni-to-BART coupon to the operator/station agent. A free transfer will be issued.
Daly City Muni tickets
At Daly City Station, you may obtain a free two-part ticket inside the BART paid area for 28-19th Avenue or 54-Felton to and from Daly City Station. The coupon is good within one hour when transferring from BART and 24 hours when transferring to BART. Show the ticket when boarding. No transfer is issued.
BART Plus
A valid BART Plus ticket is honored on all Muni services, including cable cars.
Muni Sticker
Many connecting transit agencies offer a monthly "Muni Sticker" upgrade with their regular adult tickets or passes that allows unlimited rides on Muni buses, Muni Metro and F streetcars. Tickets or passes with Muni Sticker are not valid on cable cars.
- Golden Gate Transit - Ride Value Ticket Book
- Caltrain - Monthly passes
- SamTrans - Monthly passes
Translink
When it is rolled out on Muni later this year, Translink will enable users to pay with debited cash or a prepaid pass using an RFID (touchless) smart card at no extra cost. The same card will be usable with all major Bay Area transit agencies, and AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit already accepts it.
