MTC starts to explore regional transportation funding measure
On Monday, December 13, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission convened a “listening session” to start to consider the potential for a regional funding measure for public transportation in 2024. The slides and recording are here.
Transit services face a fiscal cliff in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, when federal relief funding that has kept transit moving during the pandemic will run out, and funding will likely be needed to avoid service cuts, according to MTC analysis.
Common themes that emerged from the listening session included the need to provide funding for transit service and the benefits of a seamlessly coordinated system for riders. Open questions include the type of revenue needed and, importantly, the timing of funding for public transportation and affordable housing. Typically, general election years (2024) are best for ballot measures. Advocates for funding of housing and transportation will all be interested in 2024.
Presenters from transit agencies, the MTC, business organizations, and the Voices for Public Transportation Coalition of transit advocates, equity groups, and labor, and MTC chair Pedroza, agreed that funding for transit service is essential. This represents changing winds among regional leaders; historically, business groups and political leaders have leaned toward funding new capital projects rather than service.
Also, multiple presenters and members of the public talked about the importance of funding and implementing next steps on integrated, affordable fares; integrated schedules and easier-to-use wayfinding; and network management decisions that could lead to a more coordinated system. Seamus Murphy, representing the transit agencies, noted that these measures are popular and help build voter confidence.
Multiple presenters talked about the importance of meeting the needs of people who depend on transit, including essential workers who kept health care and services running in the depths of the pandemic, along with seniors, people with disabilities, and youth; and the importance of providing high-quality transit to increase mode share, reduce driving and pollution.
One question that came up was the question about whether to advance one regional transportation funding measure or many measures for each separate county plus each of the regional transit agencies. Ann Richman, speaking for the region’s county transportation authorities, said that several counties were considering separate measures, but did not disclose which ones.
A big question for a regional measure will be balancing the need to fund transit with the need to fund affordable housing in the region. The MTC and Association for Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will be holding another listening session this spring focusing on housing. The region’s long-term PlanBayArea identified large unmet needs for both transportation and housing.
With regard to revenue mechanism, Voices for Public Transportation and a number of public comments, spoke strongly in favor of finding progressive sources of revenue for transit. Interestingly, Ann Richman of the Transportation Authority of Marin, representing the region’s local transportation tax authorities, also raised questions about the historical reliance on sales taxes which are regressive and can be volatile, and expressed an interest in exploring multiple mechanisms. Richman and others spoke about the importance of polling to assess the types of taxes that voters will favor.
Polling conducted over the summer showed transportation identified as a high priority for Bay Area residents, but at lower levels than in previous years. But many voters polled over the summer were also unaware about the risks of service cuts. The general election year of 2024 is also still years in the future and not on the minds of many voters. Policy Advisory Council chair Kinman talked about the importance of communication to the public about the needs for funding, and the uses of prior funding.
In order to advance a regional transportation measure, legislation would be needed in Sacramento in 2023. So a broad regional discussion to shape a funding measure would need to start this coming year, in 2022. Stay tuned for opportunities to participate in the discussion.