Voters are split on whether or not to save Bay Area public transit

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1. 1h ago

   Bay Area Voters Split On Regional Transit Funding Measure

   Voters are closely divided over a November ballot proposal designed to rescue Bay Area public transit systems from severe budget shortfalls. A poll released this week shows that 48 percent of respondents support the Regional Transit Measure, while 34 percent oppose it and 18 percent remain undecided. The measure proposes a sales tax increase across five counties to generate approximately $980 million annually for agencies including BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit. Transit officials warn that failure to pass the measure could result in catastrophic service cuts as early as January.

   Why it matters

   The funding proposal comes as regional transit systems face the risk of severe service decimation due to deep budget deficits. If approved, the measure would increase sales taxes by 0.5 percentage point in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, and by 1 percentage point in San Francisco. Opposition arguments contend that agencies manufactured the crisis, creating divisions among residents regarding how the transit shortfall should be handled.

   What is confirmed

   • Only 48% of respondents said they would vote for November's Regional Transit Measure, according to a poll conducted by Embold Research for Joint Venture Silicon Valley and the Bay Area News Group.
   • 34% of poll respondents said they would not vote for the measure, and 18% said they were still undecided.
   • The Regional Transit Measure would increase sales tax by 0.5 percentage point in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Alameda counties and by 1 percentage point in San Francisco.
   • The measure is expected to generate roughly $980 million annually for the next 14 years to bail out transit agencies including BART, SF's Muni, Caltrain and Oakland's AC Transit.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Muni could be forced to cut services by 30% and cancel around 20 lines, and BART may need to cut around 70% of services and close 15 stations as early as January if the measure fails.

   What to watch next

   • The November election results on the Regional Transit Measure
   • Official actions by BART and Muni regarding potential service cuts if the measure fails
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. SFGATE — Voters are split on whether or not to save Bay Area public transit
   2. The Mercury News — SV Poll: Bay Area transit tax divides residents by age and homeownership, poll finds
   3. The San Francisco Standard — Prop. RTM increases sales tax across the Bay Area to fund BART and other public transit
   4. Streetsblog California — Streetsblog California Endorsements on Transit Funding Measures Across the State
   5. KALW — The Regional Transit Measure: A new tax to fund public transit
   6. www.kalw.org — The Regional Transit Measure: A new tax to fund public transit
   7. travel.yahoo.com — Inside Hollywood Burbank Airport's $1.3 billion terminal, 40 years in the making
   8. www.democraticunderground.com — Voters are split on whether or not to save Bay Area public ...
   9. flipboard.com — Zara Tindall shows off model prowess in skinny jeans and Wellington boots
   10. stanforddaily.com — Bay Area to vote on transit tax measure - stanforddaily.com
   11. www.pressdemocrat.com — Bay Area transit tax poll: 48% support Regional Transit Measure
   12. newschunks.com — Bay Area Voters Narrowly Back Regional Transit Tax Measure
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