Council Applauds Google’s $6.8 Million Gift for SF MUNI Kids Program

The Bay Area Council today (Feb. 27, 2014) applauded an announcement  by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee that Google will provide $6.8 million to fund the city’s MUNI Kids Ride Free program, which enables low- and middle-income youths aged 5-17 to ride the system without charge. A recent report by the city showed that in its first year the program has been wildly successful, helping 40,000 kids get where they need to go.

“Google has long been a leader in providing alternate transportation options to their employees and this program will extend that leadership to benefit the broader community,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “Free Muni for Youth provides a valuable and important service which transit and community advocates have hailed for helping the city’s neediest residents. Google’s generous support of Kids Ride Free will ensure that thousands of low- and middle-income San Francisco children can get where they need to go.”

Google is among the companies the Bay Area Council has convened over the past year to work with Mayor Lee and the city’s municipal transportation agency in developing a pilot program for the safe and efficient operation of commuter shuttles on city streets that will also help San Francisco fulfill its Transit First mission.

(Photo: SF Chronicle)