SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - While Muni has increased the number of inspectors over the past year in an effort to crack down on freeloading transit users who cost The City millions in unpaid fares, none of those charged with checking for tickets and passes are deployed on The City’s buses — where, critics complain, they are needed most.

With Muni proposing to raise parking fines and increase Fast Pass prices as a way to make up a projected two-year budget shortfall of $81.5 million, Supervisor Bevan Dufty requested Tuesday that the board’s budget analyst conduct an audit of Muni’s proof-of-payment program to determine how much additional revenue could be generated by a more effective fare inspection system.

In 2006, Muni officials told a Board of Supervisors subcommittee that the agency lost $16 million to $24 million a year in unpaid fares.

San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency spokesman Judson True contested those numbers, saying they were based on anecdotal evidence gathered at the time. Muni plans on conducting a study to determine how much unpaid fare revenue is lost each year, said True.

Dufty said he wants the fare-inspector audit to be completed by June, before Mayor Gavin Newsom signs off on next year’s budget.

“The consistent complaint I get from Muni riders is that they see rampant fare evasion,” Dufty told The Examiner. “Before we ask for fare increases and higher parking fines, we ought to at least hold this agency accountable for making riders pay their fair share.”

The SFMTA currently has 54 transit-fare inspectors on staff, with 19 more trainees enrolled, up from last year, when the department had 36 inspectors and nine trainees. All transit fare inspectors are stationed at Muni’s downtown underground Metro stations.

True said inspectors are used at the Metro stations because it’s a more efficient way to track down fare evaders. He said boarding times would be more adversely affected if inspectors were deployed to Muni buses.

The increase in inspectors has yielded some results: 5,969 fare-evasion tickets have been doled out through the first three months of 2008, according to SFMTA documents. If the current rate continues, the inspectors will have issued 23,876 tickets by year’s end, more than the 21,024 handed out in 2007. Fare-evasion citations cost $50, according to True.

Some Muni advocates are left wondering how many more citations could be issued if fare inspectors were deployed all over The City.

“If you board the N-Judah on 48th [Avenue] and get off before downtown, there is no one checking your ticket,” said Greg Dewar, who runs the blog The N-Judah Chronicles.

True said a pilot plan for all-door boarding inspectors on all Muni vehicles could be implemented in the upcoming months.

wreisman@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

11:20 AM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Public voice may alter Muni�s plans"

Examiner Reader said:
They should not dismiss many lines that connect major lines in the City. For instance the 66 Quintara connects not the two major lines in the Sunset which is the L Taraval & N Judah but also the 6 Parnassus, 28 on 19th Avenue, 43 on Masonic and the 44 O'Shaughnessy. Let us say there is a problem on both the L-Taraval and the N-Judah, at least the 66 Quintara can connect those other connects so the Sunset Residents can at least get home.

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10:40 AM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Public voice may alter Muni�s plans"

Examiner Reader said:
Please save the 26-Valencia. It is the safer alternative to the 14-Mission for senior citizens going to the Social Security office and St. Luke's Hospital.

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9:26 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Please, no one had addressed the NO CALL, NO SHOW allowance for MUNI drivers. And where else can you have the head of a company/department get a pay increase/bonus for having the company/department under performing by nearly 20% of what is required.

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9:12 PM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008 re: "Muni deployments leave buses vulnerable"

Examiner Reader said:
Sometimes the only way to get on the bus is through the back. Maybe people who hold up a pass should be free to use the backdoor. That could make things faster and less crowded at the front of the bus, allow inspectors at the back to more easily identify true fare evaders, and incidentally satisfy a few fellow riders who apparently assume the worst of everyone using the backdoor.

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11:16 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Underperforming Muni routes fall victim to transit project findings"

Seven said:
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Goodbye 66 bus.

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10:51 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Muni deployments leave buses vulnerable"

Examiner Reader said:
4:29 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 16, 2008 re: "Muni worker lauded for saving blind man" M.S. Jackson said: The article should have been entitled, "Person saves blind man, can you believe it was a Muni Employee?" We have a boss (Deputy Chief Antonio Parra) that says that we are only Fare Inspectors and that is only what we do. The inspector took this action as a fellow citizen helping another citizen. We, fare inspectors and parking control officers, need D/C Parra out. He wants both departments to fail so that SFPD can take over. BTW, he make $200K+

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9:52 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Muni deployments leave buses vulnerable"

Examiner Reader said:
Just stand at 24th & Mission, waiting for the 48 bus, any given morning...there's always about 10-20 folks that enter the bus by the back door. Believe me, no one is taking their money for riding the bus! It's the same on every line - no one solution exists except to keep the back doors closed, and make everyone exit from the front door, and then let on the new passengers, which would ensure that they would pay. Perhaps if the MUNI bus drivers got off their cell phones once in a while, they could actually pay attention to their jobs and collect fares, avoid hitting pedestrians while driving, and have the time and energy to be pleasant to their customers. It makes one want to drive their car to work!

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1:07 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
I've lived here long enough to have experienced MUNI re-orgs and they've only, at best, marginally improved service. Mostly they've been used to eliminate routes in lieu of hopefully, improving others, which really hasn not proved to be the case. With the city hundres of millions of dollars in debt, I'm guessing this will once again prove to be the case once again.

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10:18 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 28, 2008 re: "Underperforming Muni routes fall victim to transit project findings"

AKo said:
I love the fact that their community meetings are at 10:30am. Conveniently located but boy I wonder who will show up since the likes of you and I are where?...AT WORK! Nice time to have meetings if you want to push throught policy and hide your shady shenanigans.

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8:16 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 26, 2008 re: "Underperforming Muni routes fall victim to transit project findings"

Wai Yip Tung said:
It is a no-brainer deciscion to cancel a route with 15 riders. Examiner should better spend time to cover the other 15,000 frustrated riders those communte will finally be improved due to the change.

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11:39 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008 re: "Parking meter prices will depend on what time it is"

Examiner Reader said:
Parking fees are an easy, but never effective way of dealing with a budget shortfall.

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9:33 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Bloody Muni accident is 19th this year"

Examiner Reader said:
i believe good samaritan laws can keep bystanders from otherwise responding in such situations. in some jurisdictions, lay people offering assistance are not immune from liability.

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5:15 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Bloody Muni accident is 19th this year"

Rebecca East said:
Problems with the MUNI system aside, Erika Galt, my niece, was shocked by the complete lack of assistance from bystanders, even as she was screaming for someone to assist her while she attempted to tend to the seriously injured man. She did what I would have assumed that anyone would have done, come to the aid of a seriously injured stranger on a public street. Apparently that assumption does not hold true for the citizenry of San Francisco. Her actions were a result of pure, unselfish human kindness, the kind that goes unnoticed and unrewarded all the time. I am proud of what she did and would have expected nothing less from anyone else.

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2:54 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Bloody Muni accident is 19th this year"

Examiner Reader said:
muni drivers are the worst...i have seen them driving while eating, drinking coffee and talking on their cell phones. why all the suprprise when they hit or kill a pedestrian, muni drivers have always thought they own the road and then there is the MUNI ATTITUDE...which is like "I have to drive this bus all day, so accept my obnoxious rude self. Well this system is so screwed up that it would take a miracle to fix it or gavin newsom stealing more money from them to pay his silly staff!!!!!

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1:02 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Bloody Muni accident is 19th this year"

Seven said:
Time to add the word "Municide" to the lexicon.

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11:20 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Carl said:
"Examiner Reader said: This is stupid. Everyone benefits from MUNI. The more people who ride MUNI, the more parking spaces are available, the less traffic and accidents, better environment".---you cant afford a car eh?

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9:36 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 3, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Ya' gotta love MUNI, yet another gorey accident. MUNI appears to be its own worst enemy. Why so often does it at least seem the driver is the last one to know they've run someone over?

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9:35 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Driver suffers from case of tunnel vision"

Alex said:
Oh boy, yesterday riding muni at 10MPH in the tunnel I was thinking that it is sort of April 1st joke.

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7:36 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008 re: "MTA considers $21M payout in �03 Muni death"

Carl said:
My sincere condolences to the Dominguez family. 20 comment and not one showing sympathy for their terrible loss. And outsiders wonder why San Francisco is self centered.

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11:10 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Report: Public transit ridership up in U.S., but not for Muni"

logicbomb said:
Do 2.7 million people really ride Muni daily?

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11:19 PM MST on Sat., Mar. 8, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Instead of punishing the regular Muni riders, why doesn't Muni increase the single-ride fare up to $2, but provide discounts for those who buy several rides at one time (in New York, when buying a MetroCard with over $7 there is a 15% bonus value that is added to the card)?

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12:10 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 7, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
This is stupid. Everyone benefits from MUNI. The more people who ride MUNI, the more parking spaces are available, the less traffic and accidents, better environment. There are so many other straightforward ways to balance the budget that don't cut public services. Public services such as MUNI are a good long term investment in the community. If we want a better budget, maybe we should stop complicating it and abusing it with policies like this... or maybe the government should stop borrowing money through bonds that only make the rich richer in the long run.

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11:13 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Yes, please penalize those fast pass users who purchase a month's service in ADVANCE, whether the service is used or not, and which likely also offers MUNI much needed cash funds to access. Hello?

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10:10 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
I think Mayor Newsom needs to have a closer look at Muni and not just ride it once every couple months for photo ops. Maybe he'd see that probably half of the people that ride Muni (especially evenings) don't pay at all! Free rides for anyone who either is mentally ill, homeless, drunk or drugged, or menacing enough. Yay! As a paying Monthly Pass user, why should I have to pick up their slack? Especially for a public service where I feel my life is sometimes in danger either from fellow passengers or from the driver him/herself. Maybe we should end the unions that protect these drivers and let them continue to put peoples' lives in danger. Don't punish the people who keep you in business in order to resolve poor financial planning and a system that continues to spiral downwards. Focus on adding value and improvements first, then maybe I'll support your pass increases.

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3:15 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Guess I'll be buying a car then if this fare increase happens. As it is, catching an on-time MUNI bus is a crapshoot, and getting to my destination on time by using MUNI is an uncertainty. Add to that the cost of other bay area transit increasing, and cars start to look more affordable and time saving. I estimate that I waste 10 hours a week by taking public transportation versus driving. That translates into $200 a week, or $800 a month. That's quite a bit more than the upkeep costs of a car. The mayor better think REALLY hard before implementing a fare increase.

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6:12 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Le Muniserable said:
A fare increase could help pay the Mayor's staff. Muni is the transportation system San Francisco loves to hate raising the price for a fast pass for those who actually pay for one each month will make it much easier. Ever notice how the fair inspectors corner unsuspecting commuters in the muni train stations on the inbound lines where writing tickets for having no fare receipt, or transfer, or fast pass is about as easy as shooting fish in a barrel? Seeing a fare inspector on the 30 Stockton in Chinatown is almost as rare as sighting Chuck Nevius, columnist for that other paper, actually riding one. If congestion pricing were to be applied to sidewalks Muni's coffers could be filled overnight by charging pedstrians on that transportation corridor, but I doubt it would be nearly enough to pay for the proposed new underground rail lines between the Caltrain Station and Chinatown. Come to think of it, shouldn't congestion pricing apply to the sidewalks covered with sleeping homeless?

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5:03 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
How about ending the corruption behind the Muni union! How about ending the $60,000 salaries for bus drivers who are chronically late? How about ending bonuses for drivers who show up on time? How about not paying drivers who sit around watching tv in the break room waiting to see if anyone is going to call in sick? Muni sucks!

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3:29 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
They take away service, promise improvements, hire new employees, threaten walkouts, provide lousy service, and want to raise prices. TIME FOR A MUTINY on the MUNI !!!!! hostile takeover of the entire system by riders until the city fixes it. All pay of city employees should be docked pending resolution including city mayor, his staff, and the BOS

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11:46 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Michael Smith said:
While I will have to pay the extra cost for my monthly Fast Pass, I recognize the realities of inadequate budgets and people who want services but refuse to accept the taxes/fees that pay for them. I would happily pay $55 or $60 a month for Muni, even in its current state.

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11:02 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Lets start a petition to recall the mayor and the idiot board and lets go back to city-wide supervisor elections. They are more accountable to all voters of SF not just their little special interests like THE UNIONS! Down with UNIONS!

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11:01 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
To the Examiner Reader who wrote: Hard working monthly Fast Past purchasers are very likely the backbone of continued revenue source for Muni. We should not be dinged or asked to carry this burden to make up for Muni's own shortfalls and mismanagement. Get tougher on the fare evaders. Squeeze revenue from them. BRAVO! I couldn't have said it any better. I too am a loyal fast pass user and I am sick and tired of the back-door freeloaders. Unfortunately, majority of these freeloaders are CRIMINAL THUGS.

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10:48 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
How about getting Muni employee's Family & Friends to pony up? When budget shortfalls have come to where practically everyone is being nickled and dimed already, I say no more free rides--for anyone!!

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9:56 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Is Fast Pass a quick fix for budget?"

Examiner Reader said:
Hard working monthly Fast Past purchasers are very likely the backbone of continued revenue source for Muni. We should not be dinged or asked to carry this burden to make up for Muni's own shortfalls and mismanagement. Get tougher on the fare evaders. Squeeze revenue from them.

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12:43 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 28, 2008 re: "Service cuts looming in overhaul of transit system"

Examiner Reader said:
Transit Effectiveness Project = Cut Muni Why even I can improve on that in 100 days. Time to get the mayor out, and SF MUNI heads all of them on the chopping block. reducing any bus route of 1,000 passengers a day = 1,000 more cars on the road.... green city = $$$$ green for othose in charge while we suffer. MUNI its time for severe MUTINY!!!!

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10:46 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 21, 2008 re: "Wi-Fi bus to surf S.F. streets"

Seaborn Ford said:
The new "connector" wi-fi bus is great for Newsom's political agenda, but I think San Franciscans would rather have buses that are on time and less crowded.

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11:08 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Muni study breaks down priorities, could lead to major overhaul"

Examiner Reader said:
If there aren't enough mechanics to keep the streetcars and buses running, or enough operators available to drive the vehicles, I don't see how any plan, new or otherwise, can make much of a difference.

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3:26 PM MST on Tue., Feb. 19, 2008 re: "Muni study breaks down priorities, could lead to major overhaul"

Seven said:
It takes an hour to get from Noriega/Beach to downtown on the 71 bus, assuming the buses are running on time. A 15-20% improvement would chop only 10 minutes off the commute and is still unacceptable for a transit-first city.

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6:32 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 19, 2008 re: "Muni study breaks down priorities, could lead to major overhaul"

Bob said:
Why is it that Unions dictate who can or cannot be fired. In the private sector there is a provision that employers use and that is called "at-will" its time MUNI management start using that little provision but then when you have the Union calling the shots it will never happen. I HAVE BECOME SO ANTI-UNION! No wonder Unions in this country are becoming less and less, they are destroying jobs

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11:33 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008 re: "Slow start in effort to quicken Muni"

Examiner Reader said:
Here's a suggestion. With the permission of the union, terminate a considerably under-performing administrator, manager, driver and station agent and so forth and do it occasionally throughout the year. Almost unquestionably it will get other employees' attention and likely improve their overall attitude and performance at MUNI.

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4:58 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008 re: "Slow start in effort to quicken Muni"

Seven said:
We westside homeowners expected nothing else. Keep taking our property tax dollars and using them exclusively for downtown programs that either don't work or or make the problem worse.

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3:12 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008 re: "Slow start in effort to quicken Muni"

Examiner Reader said:
Will these cameras record when the bus or train driver runs a red light like they often do at Castro and Market? Will they record when the M train blocks the intersection of West Portal, Sloat, and Portola, because the light changed and they couldn't get through the intersection? When MUNI drivers are held accountable for poor driving maybe then it'll improve. IN fact, when anyone at MUNI gets held accountable for anything, maybe then MUNI will improve. But until that day comes...it's business as usual, man.

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1:17 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 11, 2008 re: "Slow start in effort to quicken Muni"

Examiner Reader said:
Here's a novel idea...make MUNI employees and supervisors financially responsible for every year they don't meet their schedules? Basically, you were late 15% of the time in 2007? Well, your salary is now decreased by 15% for the year 2008. Also, stop tying sick time and vacation time together. Give drivers and supervisors 10 sick days per calendar year (a 'use it or lose it' deal) that DOESN'T roll over into the next year if there is a remainder. Also, make it mandatory that supervisors ride the system themselves 3 out of 5 workdays a week (put that electronic transit system to work to keep tabs on supervisors). Frankly, the only way to get muni working is to take away the money and start making MUNI employees work for a living.

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3:41 PM MST on Fri., Jan. 18, 2008 re: "Riders say N-Judah stop is dangerous"

Examiner Reader said:
Why don't you tell us what stop location this article is all about ??

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1:29 PM MST on Fri., Jan. 18, 2008 re: "Muni train drags man to his death"

m.s. jackson said:
I always see people fighting the back doors to get on for free. I have seen some of them fail and get knocked back to the street as the train starts moving. Who knows if this type of activity is behind this occurrence but it would be a good idea to take a hint and enter legally through the front door as the Muni driver will not be aware of you should you get trapped or knocked over by an closing door. This situation could be the moment of your death.

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11:47 AM MST on Fri., Jan. 18, 2008 re: "Riders say N-Judah stop is dangerous"

Examiner Reader said:
Streetcars are inherently unsafe. The idea of boarding riders in the middle of the street is just extremely dangerous and i always see very close calls. We should just demolish all streetcars and replace them with regular buses.

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10:25 AM MST on Fri., Jan. 18, 2008 re: "Muni train drags man to his death"

Examiner Reader said:
Somehow rear-door boarding is going to noticeably improve or somehow fix MUNI's on-time performance?