The Bay Area could see more transit consolidation and interagency coordination pending a new state Senate bill that aims to stem fiscal bleeding and close operational gaps within many of the region’s 27 public transit agencies.
With the passage of Senate Bill 1031, sponsored by state Sens. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Aisha Wahab, D-Fremont, Bay Area residents from across the region’s nine counties would likely vote on a ballot measure providing at least $750 million annually to transit agencies throughout the region, with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission — a regional financing and coordination body across the Bay Area — ultimately determining whether that comes in the form of a sales tax, parcel tax or other form of taxation.
The extra funds would support transportation agencies as they struggle to recover fare revenue comparable to pre-pandemic levels, though Wiener said public transit has never been properly funded, and COVID-19 exacerbated an already gaping hole in funding.
“Even before the pandemic, a number of transit agencies had structural operating deficits,” Wiener said. “We have never funded our public transportation agencies in a way that will allow them to fully succeed so that we can truly have a mode shift.”
Several of the region’s biggest operators are facing deficits, with BART reaching a $300 million per year structural deficit. Caltrain’s operating deficit is projected to be about $33 million in fiscal year 2026, although recent data shows that number growing to nearly $100 million per year beginning in 2033.
The bill would also require an assessment starting next year of how best to consolidate more transit agencies across the region.
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“Many people think that consolidation just means just one agency. That’s not necessarily the case,” Wahab said. “We want to make sure that we are delivering the best for the rider first and foremost. If that study means five agencies, if it means nine agencies, if it means one agency, we will know once the data and the assessment is complete.”
Such discussions have also caused friction between some of San Mateo County’s transit agencies and MTC. Several board members on Caltrain and SamTrans, the county’s transportation agency, have previously been wary of strengthening MTC’s authority. They’ve also voiced opposition to any plan that hints of a possible merger between Caltrain and BART, stating Peninsula taxpayers — whose contributions to the BART system are currently a fraction of what several other counties pay — shouldn’t be on the hook for bailing out the agency.
But both Caltrain and BART have struggled to regain pre-pandemic ridership, with 35% and 48% recovery, respectively, as of November. And David Canepa, member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, noted he has grown frustrated with discourse that frames efforts like SB 1031 solely on whether Caltrain and BART will merge.
“Just to frame this as a Caltrain-BART issue, we’re losing the conversation,” Canepa said. “Why wouldn’t we look at this regionally? At the end of the day, it’s about the rider experience.”
The bill would also bolster MTC’s authority to condition more funding on transit agencies’ performance, such as regional coordination performance.
Hmmm. Suspiciously sounds like this “one” transit agency ploy was a farce and as we can surmise from this article, is only a gambit to float more taxes and fees to fund their pensions and benefits. And of course, to operate at 100% of workers while servicing less than half their ridership. This appears to be another bait and switch – once you’ve bought in with your hard-earned money, magically, no agencies will need to be consolidated. Vote NO. The consolidation of agencies will save money. Money that is not needed via this new money-grabbing ballot measure.
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Hmmm. Suspiciously sounds like this “one” transit agency ploy was a farce and as we can surmise from this article, is only a gambit to float more taxes and fees to fund their pensions and benefits. And of course, to operate at 100% of workers while servicing less than half their ridership. This appears to be another bait and switch – once you’ve bought in with your hard-earned money, magically, no agencies will need to be consolidated. Vote NO. The consolidation of agencies will save money. Money that is not needed via this new money-grabbing ballot measure.
Those in favor can ride their bicycles. Those against can be free Americans to travel as one pleases.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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