On Monday afternoon in Sacramento, the Assembly Transportation Committee passed Senate Bill 63, the bill authorizing a regional transit funding measure for the Bay Area. The measure would be put on the ballot by a signature gathering initiative in 5 counties (San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara). The measure would be a […]
In the first week of August, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties voted to join the regional transit funding measure, joining San Francisco and the East Bay. The VTA Board voted unanimously to opt into the regional transit funding measure being authorized by SB63 on Thursday, August 8, following SamTrans Board’s 8-1 decision on Wednesday,
On Wednesday, August 23, the Caltrain board voted on a compromise agreement on how Caltrain would be funded in the context of a regional transit funding measure. The Caltrain board agreed to allocate funds among the Caltrain member agencies at $32.5 million for Santa Clara County, $32.5 million for San Mateo County, and $10 million
On July 2, the SamTrans board heard information about new polling that drew more board members to lean toward support for participation in a potential regional transportation funding measure. The polling compared options for joining the regional transit funding measure (which enables a citizens’ initiative that can pass with over 50% of the vote), or
On Wednesday, July 2, the SamTrans board will discuss new polling and will evaluate options to fund transit for the county, including Caltrain and BART regional services which face steep deficits and potential service cuts in upcoming budget years, and SamTrans which is starting to show future deficits imperiling service. Options to keep the regional
At board meetings in the first week of June, decision-makers in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties inched toward decisions on a regional transit funding measure. Legislation to authorize a funding measure includes San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, with San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties have the option to join. Both “opt-in” counties
A new poll commissioned by the Service Employees International Union shows a “gross receipts tax” on businesses would get more voter support than the sales tax that has been polled to date. The poll asked likely November 2026 voters whether businesses should pay their fair share to support public transit. The business gross receipts tax
A tour of Kiku Crossing, an affordable housing community near downtown San Mateo, was a highlight of Affordable Housing Month. The tour showed how a set of transportation demand management strategies including Clipper BayPass, shared parking, and secure, plentiful bike storage help residents living in the community; help the city bring affordable using a downtown
Last week, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties inched closer toward participating in a regional transportation funding measure. There are more key meetings in San Mateo County this month, and in both counties over the next couple of months as the July decision deadline nears. The VTA board reviewed its polling data (agenda 7.3)
Last week, the bill authorizing a regional transportation funding measure, SB63, passed the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday April 22 and the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on Wednesday, April 23. In the process, authors Wiener and Arreguin accepted several amendments. The bill includes three counties: San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties, and allows
On Thursday, the Caltrain board will consider taking a position in support of SB63, the authorizing legislation for a regional transportation funding measure, being authored by Senator Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin. The Caltrain board Advocacy and Major Projects committee recommended this position in April. SB63 was approved last week in two Senate committees. Caltrain
Each year, over 6,000 people are killed in America by cars while walking and 850 are killed while biking. Another 76,000 pedestrians and 47,000 people on bikes are injured by cars. Our roads are deadly places and communities of color are disproportionately affected by traffic violence. At the same time, carceral solutions both have failed
Caltrain starts a soft launch of electric train service tomorrow, August 11. A few electric trains will be in service tomorrow, interspersed with the old diesel trains and still running the current service. Caltrain isn’t announcing which trains will be electric during the soft launch period. More electric trains will be added in incrementally, and
Electrifying the Capitol Corridor would enable fast, frequent travel between the South Bay, East Bay and Sacramento. It would connect the economic and political capitals of Northern California– but powerful interests are pushing unproven hydrogen trains technology that could instead lock in poor train service for decades. The Capitol Corridor is the spine of Northern
For Pride Month, the Transbay Coalition was thrilled to partner with Queer Silicon Valley and Liveable Sunnyvale for a special happy hour celebrating the theme of inclusion & solidarity: \”Everyone on the bus, no one under it.\” Advocates from around the Bay came out to “Off The Rail Brewing” on the car-free outdoor plaza on
Transportation is all about bringing people together and so for this “Star Wars Day,” the Transbay Coalition was delighted to host our “May the 4th Happy Hour! ‘Episode 1: A Hayward Awakens’” Folks from around the Bay Area came out to the World Famous Turf Club in downtown Hayward to chat all things transit. For
In March 2024, the AC Transit Board of Directors scheduled a vote on a proposal to raise bus fares for riders by 20% over two years. Raising bus fares burdens low-income riders who have no other transportation option. Higher fares also push more people to choose to drive, increasing congestion and emissions. Recognizing these issues
In Spring 2024, Transbay Coalition led a successful campaign to get weekend evening bus service restored to the Broadway Corridor in downtown Oakland. Months ago AC Transit enacted a “temporary” weekend evening service detoured from Broadway between 14th and 20th. It inconvenienced riders, slowed Oakland’s downtown recovery, and made transit a less useful option for
On Thursday, April 6, the Caltrain board will consider the budget challenges created by pandemic-induced ridership declines. Caltrain can fend off an immediate fiscal cliff because of state funding to complete electrification construction. But with persistently low ridership and depressed fare revenue caused by a decline in white collar commuting – Caltrain’s previous business model
At long last, the Bay Bridge Bus Bill AB 455 (Wicks, Wiener), is coming to a vote in the Senate Transportation Committee this Tuesday, June 14th! Although the bill passed the Assembly in 2021, it got held up in committee and its fate was uncertain. But after much collaboration between the Transbay Coalition, the Assemblymember’s
