VTA, SamTrans adopt priorities for local funds from regional transit ballot measure; Alameda County to decide
Last week, the SamTrans board and VTA board decided on their priorities for locally controlled funding from the regional transit ballot measure, with high priorities on maintaining and improving local transit service for riders.
These decisions are especially important now that the Connect Bay Area and Stronger Muni for All campaigns have gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in November.
However, both VTA and SamTrans adopted general frameworks to guide future board decisions, rather than deciding on specific expenditures in advance. This means that advocates will need to continue watching and speaking up to make sure that the funds are used to maintain and improve service.
The SamTrans and VTA board decisions were made following encouragement and input from many transit riders and organizations supporting transit riders in San Mateo and Santa Clara County and around the region. Thanks to everyone who’s given feedback in recent months encouraging priorities that support transit riders.
VTA prioritizes frequent service and faster buses (but allows other options)
After years of work on a strategy focusing on improving service frequency, speed and reliability, the VTA board decision opened the door to using $264 million in locally controlled funding to nearly double service frequency.
The VTA staff analysis for the June board meeting showed that funding the “Visionary Network” improving service frequency in several phases, and transit priority investments (such as signal priority and bus lanes) making bus and light rail service faster and more reliable are the most powerful strategies to achieve the board’s goals of improving ridership and productivity while improving customer experience.
VTA presented the board with analysis about how increasing service frequency and making transit faster and more reliable was expected to increase ridership and reduce the cost per passenger.
The VTA expenditures will be decided later by the board, using a 4-year rolling program for projects/programs that best meet goals, based on more detailed analysis on each category.
In addition, Chair Lopez and Vice Chair Mahan sent a memo (8.1.f) that was incorporated into the board’s recommendations, calling for a financial efficiency and sustainability plan with strategies to sustain both existing and expanded service over the life of the measure, and additional analysis of improvements to customer experience and emerging service models to attract new riders and expand coverage.
SamTrans board supports sustaining and improving service
Meanwhile, the SamTrans board was somewhat more specific about the share of the $50 million in locally controlled funding. The top priority for SamTrans is to prevent service cuts as SamTrans anticipates budget shortfalls in coming years. The next priorities are to improve rider experience by making buses more reliable and efficient with transit priority, better bus stops, and last mile connections; and expanding service with a focus on underserved communities.
Like VTA, SamTrans decisions will be made later by the board, with funding percentages to be recalibrated approximately every three years during the term of the tax, taking into consideration current needs and conditions. Advocates will need to watch carefully to make sure the board’s decisions continue to reflect rider priorities for frequent, fast, well-connected service and safe, comfortable and dignified bus stops.
