San Francisco’s cable cars are headed for a major fare increase that would reshape the cost of riding the city’s most iconic line.
Right now, a single ride costs $9, with kids 5 and up paying the same fare as adults, while children 4 and under ride free. There’s also a $15 one-day Visitor Passport that includes unlimited cable car and Muni rides.
The SFMTA board has approved a plan that would raise fares to $12 in 2027, followed by a further jump to $18 per ride in 2028, pending final approval which would effectively double the cost of a ride within two years.
If we’re trying to look at the bright side, the proposal also replaces existing single-ride and tiered visitor tickets with a new “Cable Car Plus” pass, which would include unlimited rides and allow one adult ticket to cover up to two kids under 18, making it (slightly) more cost-effective for families.
The changes are part of an effort to close a major budget gap as operating costs outpace revenue and pandemic-era funding winds down.
H/t: SF Gate
