Bay Area residents approve taxes to support public Transportation

The Regional Transit Measure, a half-cent sales tax intended to fund over 20 transit agencies including BART, Muni, and Caltrain, is currently leading with 61% of the vote. The tax rate will be one cent in San Francisco.

San Francisco voters also overwhelmingly approved Proposition H, a parcel tax designed to fund Muni for 15 years, with 72% support. This tax will impose a $129 annual charge on single-family homes, while multi-family residences, larger properties, and commercial buildings will be subject to higher amounts. The tax will be adjusted annually to account for inflation.

Transit agencies had previously warned of significant service reductions to address budget deficits exacerbated by rising costs and decreased ridership following the COVID-19 pandemic. BART faces a $375 million deficit, Muni a $307 million gap, and Caltrain a $75 million shortfall.

BART officials had outlined a plan to potentially close up to 15 stations and curtail daily service to 9 p.m., alongside potential fare and parking fee increases of up to 50%. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency considered cutting 20 bus lines, reducing bus frequency by half, and discontinuing cable car service.

Some taxpayer groups have questioned the severity of these projected cuts. They point out that transit agencies already receive approximately $6 billion annually from taxes, tolls, and government grants. Marc Joffe, president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, questioned the long-term sustainability of relying on tax increases, suggesting a reallocation of funds from California’s high-speed rail project to support local transit systems.

Previously, in 2020, voters approved Measure RR, an eighth-cent sales tax to support transit operations.