notes.husk.org/likes images.

For all the justifiable uproar over the SFMTA raising Muni fares while reinstating free Sunday parking, there is at least one new perk in the SFMTA budget.

Streetcar rentals will be more affordable that ever. Dropping from $733.75 for two-hours down to $363.50. If it seems odd that the prices aren’t rounded off to something simpler like $750 or $375, that’s because there is a vote enacted law that prevents government agencies from charging any more than the cost of what it takes to administrate the program.

“The amounts proposed are projected to recover costs associated with maintenance, operations and administering vehicle rental. For FY 2015 the methodology is proposed to expand to all service vehicles not just Cable Cars and Historic Vehicles given demand for rental of all service vehicle types.”

It’s unfortunate State law prevents the SFMTA from being able to generate a profit. The market has demonstrated there is high demand at twice the new price and, were it legal, this would be an ideal way to generate revenue from a non-essential rental service that can be put into better Muni service, maintenance.