Five Counties Now Support Regional Transportation Funding Measure

The Bay Area Council’s work to save our transit systems from fiscal collapse took a leap forward last week when San Mateo and Santa Clara counties voted to participate in the transportation revenue measure that will now encompass five counties – including Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco. The Council has been at the forefront of the development of this measure to address the immediate fiscal crises faced by Bay Area public transit agencies and stabilize them going forward.

Senate Bill 63 (Wiener, Arreguin) would authorize the placement of a ½ cent sales tax for 10-15 years on the November 2026 ballot to mostly fund transit operations for the four largest operators facing fiscal cliffs – Muni, BART, Caltrain and AC Transit – as well as Transit Transformation rider improvements, operating support for smaller bus and ferry services, and would leave additional return-to-source funding for projects identified by individual counties.

At the outset of this process, the Council called for strict accountability provisions to ensure that all taxpayer funds are used as efficiently as possible that will restore voter confidence in supporting the systems. The framework we developed has been integrated into the bill, and as of this week, additional amendments will strengthen the financial efficiency review concept we proposed and ensure the meaningful implementation of its recommendations along with robust oversight. To engage in the Council’s transportation policy work, please contact Senior Vice President Emily Loper.