"Because of these riders the system will be sustained," Campos said at today's meeting. "It's helping low-income youth and making sure the system works."
Today's decision follows back-and-forth discussions regarding the pilot program including an April SFMTA board meeting where members approved a free Muni program contingent on MTC funding.
Then, back in October, MTC granted the $6.7 million to the transit agency to use as seen fit, which spurred new discussion, including involvement with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, about how the money should be spent.
After some compromise with youth advocate groups, the pilot program went from a 22-month program for all city youth to a 16-month trial period for low-income families.
Youth advocates, many from groups who have formed a coalition through People Organized to Win Employment Rights, or POWER, have been fighting for the free Muni pilot program for more than two years.
The hard-won program is expected to help 40,000 low-income youth use public transit in the face of rising bus pass costs and eliminated school bus service.
A youth month pass on Muni costs $22 per month.
Today's reaction was joyous as a crowd of supporters at the meeting broke out in applause and continued to express their happiness with the decision outside the board chambers.
"It will invest in a new generation of transit riders," San Francisco Youth Commission spokesman Paul Monge-Rodriguez said.
The next steps for the youth advocates are ensuring implementation and access, while also monitoring the program's effectiveness.
"It has been two years -- we are really happy," Donaji Lona, an organizer with POWER, said. "We have to make sure all kids have access."
Applications for the program are set to go out to families by the end of the month and will be ready for submission to the SFMTA starting in January, according to the Monge-Rodriguez.
The program will then kick off in March 2013 and continue through June 30, 2014, when the decision to continue the program will be reevaluated, according to SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose.