Bay Area Council Takes Leading Role in Regional Transportation Funding Campaign with Emphasis in Improving Service, System Efficiency
Voter attitudes appear to be warming on a critical regional transportation funding measure planned for the ballot in November 2026. The timing couldn’t be better. The Bay Area Council played a pivotal role in shaping the measure and our Chair, Kristina Lawson, is chairing a coalition of groups working to gather the signatures necessary to place it on the ballot as well as run the campaign to secure its passage on election day.
Key to the Council’s participation was incorporating into the authorizing legislation (SB 63, Wiener/Arreguín) approved this year strong requirements that transit systems receiving funding improve safety, service and convenience for riders and make their systems dramatically more efficient, including requiring financial efficiency reviews to identify areas to cut costs. The law authorizes a sales tax measure to be placed on the ballot in November 2026 in five counties — Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara — to avert severe service cuts on the region’s largest public transit systems and fund priority transit projects and targeted road improvements. The measure stems from the so-called “fiscal cliff” that many transit agencies are facing since a dramatic decline in ridership and revenue during the pandemic and a shift to remote work.
“We’re building a broad, durable coalition because this measure is about both avoiding disastrous service cuts and building the Bay Area’s future,” Lawson said. “The Bay Area doesn’t work without public transportation and our coalition is working hard to deliver this critical funding for the future of our region.”
While polling by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) shows early voter support for a measure is strong at 56% it will take a well-funded and well-run campaign over the next 12 months to ensure victory. To learn more about the measure or the campaign, please contact Senior Vice President Emily Loper.
