Photo by SFMTA Photography Department
Public transit plays a critical role in the lives of many and supports the climate, equity, and recovery goals for the entire region. As the Bay Area grapples with the imminent need for more transit operating funding, agencies are discussing strategies, including regional measures and service cuts, to bridge the gap and continue providing sustainable and reliable service for riders as federal relief funds run dry.
At the February 25 Transportation Authority Board meeting, staff from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and SFMTA shared updates on their agency’s efforts to help close anticipated budget shortfalls.
Metropolitan Transportation Commission Releases Poll Results for a Regional Transportation Revenue Measure
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission recently released the results of polling conducted earlier this year for several regional transportation revenue measure frameworks intended to address anticipated transit operating deficits in the region.
The poll found that a majority of voters in the four counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and San Mateo would vote yes on a new sales tax to support transit operations for AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, and SFMTA.
Fifty-four percent of likely voters supported a flat half-cent sales tax across the four counties while 55 percent supported a variable-rate tax framework where San Francisco sees a higher sales tax increase than other counties at seven-eighths of a cent.
MTC also polled a nine-county measure that proposed both a half-cent sales tax and a nine-cent parcel tax, which saw 44 percent support after respondents heard opposing arguments.
While the two four-county frameworks saw majority support, they fell short of reaching the two-thirds voter approval threshold needed for MTC to pass a measure.
Subsequently, a regional measure may need a citizen initiative that enables simple majority approval in order to be viable in the near term.
The poll results show that awareness of the post-pandemic challenges faced by transit agencies is high, with over two-thirds of the voters polled saying Bay Area public transit needs more funding.
The poll is intended to help inform forthcoming amendments to Senate Bill 63, which is an intent bill introduced earlier this year by Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin that will act as the vehicle for a regional transportation revenue measure. The amendments, which will lay the groundwork for a measure framework, are expected to be in print by March 26. If successful, the bill would authorize a measure to be placed on the ballot in November 2026.
View the presentation to the Transportation Authority Board (PDF)
SFMTA Financial Update
At the February 25 Board meeting, SFMTA’s Director of Transportation Julie Kirschbaum also shared an update on Muni’s near- and longer-term funding gaps and potential summer 2025 service impacts:
SFMTA Financial Update Presentation (PDF)
The SFMTA Board is expected to make a final decision on how to close the $15 million gap this month after reviewing community feedback. The Muni Funding Working group continues to address the fiscal year 2026-27 deficit which is anticipated to grow to $322 million. SFMTA’s next Muni Funding Working Group meeting is on March 21.