Next year, voters could be asked to save Bay Area public transit agencies as two state senators introduced legislation that would authorize a sales tax measure in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties.
State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín introduced Senate Bill 63, called the Bay Area Connect Act. The bill proposes a half-cent sales tax in three counties, with San Mateo and Santa Clara counties able to opt in by July 31. San Francisco has the option to increase the tax to one cent, providing additional funding for Muni.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that the Bay Area faces a very frightening situation when it comes to public transportation,” Wiener said at a press conference Monday morning in front of the BART Embarcadero station entrance. “If we do nothing, we will see massive service cuts at our major public transit agencies, and that will be horrific for the entire Bay Area.”
Wiener laid out what could happen next year if Bay Area transit systems are not funded, including BART passengers waiting for an hour for trains, having no BART weekend service and Muni having to reduce frequency of up to 50 percent.
“There is no downtown recovery without good transit, and the Bay Area will be severely weakened if we let this happen,” he said.
Bay Area transit agencies next year are facing massive budget deficits with some already having to start cutting service. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees Muni, is facing a $50 million deficit at the start of July 1 and is already making plans to cut some Muni service to downtown. The agency faces a $320 million deficit next year.
BART announced Monday that they had closed a $35 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year through various cuts and efficiencies, though faces a deficit of more than $350 million next year.
Next year, SFMTA faces a $320 million deficit and BART faces a deficit over $350 million.
Arreguin said BART closing stations and reducing service would impact riders needing to get to work, school and doctor appointments. He added that it would impact the Bay Area’s freeways and set the Bay Area back in reducing greenhouse emissions.
“This is a crisis,” Arreguin said. “We have to respond quickly, and we have to save public transit in the Bay Area.”
A poll from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) found that 55 percent polled would support a sales tax measure in at least Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties.
To receive the funding, Senate Bill 63 mandates that transit agencies improve coordination efforts with one another. Additionally, they must undergo an independent efficiency review to pinpoint cost-saving measures. Following this review, the agencies are required to submit a plan to the MTC detailing how they intend to implement these measures.
The proposed bill announcement follows the conclusion of the Muni Funding Group, consisting of transit officials, community organizations, business leaders, and labor representatives in San Francisco.
At the last meeting on Friday, the group was presented with seven packages that included ways to generate new revenue and reduce cuts at the SFMTA. The most popular option was the first package, which included the regional ballot measure (with increased tax) and a local sales parcel tax — measures that could generate the most revenue for the agency.
The first package also includes $10 million in administrative cuts and the possibility of using automated cameras to ticket drivers parked in the bike lane, which is allowed under state law.
The group’s final recommendations will be presented to the SFMTA board for review during its workshop on April 22.
