The State of California has provided Bay Area transit agencies with a $750 million loan to prevent cuts that threatened San Francisco’s historic streetcars and cable cars. 

COVID-era funding from the federal government has helped many transit agencies stay afloat as they adapt to changing commuter patterns. However, that funding is now nearly exhausted, prompting agencies to seek new sources of revenue. Earlier this year, officials from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced they would have to cut services along the city’s three cable car routes and the historic F-Line along the waterfront, which operates a fleet of historic PCC streetcars. Civic and business leaders opposed these cuts, emphasizing that both services are vital to commuters and to the city’s unique character. 

But last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom agreed to include a $750 million loan in the state budget to help the agencies until November 2026. By then, SFMTA plans to ask voters to approve a sales tax measure to support transit operations. 

—Justin Franz