Authorizing bill for Transit Regional Measure paused - next steps to build agreement
We are at a pivotal moment for the future of Bay Area transit. The Connect Bay Area Act (SB 1031), which would have authorized a regional transportation funding ballot measure, was pulled from this year’s legislative cycle on May 31st.
Senators Scott Wiener and Aisha Wahab, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) decided to put SB 1031 on ‘pause’ in order to allow more time for stakeholders to build agreement. The Senators now intend to introduce a new bill in 2025.
Senator Aisha Wahab speaking at the March 18th bill launch for SB 1031 next to Senator Wiener, elected officials from across the region, and transit advocates.
This is understandable given the importance of having broad support for a ballot measure in 2026. The discussion and debates about the bill showed the need for more time to converge around key goals and address concerns of various stakeholders around the region.
Seamless Bay Area was an early supporter of SB 1031 as it would have taken a big step toward the vision that most members of the public want to see – a world-class, seamlessly integrated, much-improved transit system, capable of attracting far more riders out of cars. Fast, frequent, well-coordinated transit is crucial for providing mobility for people who depend on transit, meeting our housing and climate goals, keeping traffic off highways and pollution out of the air. Critically, the bill established a network manager capable of coordinating transit services in the region.
Pausing to build agreement was wise. We need bold regional solutions for regional problems.
While this pause is disappointing, it’s imperative that stakeholders use this time to reach consensus around core components of the bill. If we are going to pass a 2026 ballot measure we will need a broad, multi-sector coalition that has buy-in from our elected leaders and stakeholders around the region.
More than that, advocates and institutions should utilize this time to coalesce around a common set of principles and an inspiring vision for how a regional measure will transform Bay Area transit. In spite of many good faith efforts for outreach among bill authors, advocates, and MTC, many stakeholders across the region did not see their priorities reflected in SB 1031.
Right now – more than ever – our region cannot turn inward and look for local solutions to regional problems. The decisions made in these upcoming years will have long lasting impacts on the future. Stakeholders from all nine Bay Area counties have the opportunity to develop a shared vision for a measure that achieves a transformational level of change and reflects the goals of all parts of the region.
A new Select Committee to reach consensus
At a Special June 12th MTC meeting, Commission Chair Alfredo Pedroza announced the creation of a Select Committee to “develop and reach agreement on the core goals and the detailed policy components of a future transportation measure.” The Select Committee will convene their first meeting on June 24th and conclude by mid-October with an estimated six meetings. MTC Commissioner James Spering will chair this new Select Committee.
Pedroza said he will work to ensure Select Committee membership includes MTC Commissioners from across the region in addition to other key stakeholders. We are happy to announce that Adina Levin, Seamless Bay Area’s Advocacy Director, has been tapped for a position on the Select Committee.
Issues to address
The most intense debate and discussion around SB 1031 occurred over the last 3 months, since the bill was announced on March 18th. Some negotiations were close while others will require more hashing out.
Here are a few key takeaways from experience and the next steps we will need to be successful when a bill is reintroduced next year.
Achieving consensus on key substantive issues
Transit agencies and elected officials from the North and South Bay voiced the most hesitation to SB 1031. In particular Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, and Sonoma Counties worried that a 2026 regional measure might risk renewal of their existing local tax measures dedicated to transit funding.
The most pressing local tax measures that will need reauthorization are Santa Clara County’s 2000 Measure A (sunset date: 2036), San Mateo County’s 1988 Measure A (sunset date: 2036), and SMART’s 2008 Measure Q (sunset date: 2029).
Counties also wanted assurances that funds raised from a ballot measure would be allocated fairly across the region. As such the first round of amendments to SB1031 guaranteed that a minimum of 70% of funds raised would be spent in the county they came from. The second round of amendments increased this amount to 90% “return to source” after the first 5 years of the bill.
Failure to authorize any kind of ballot measure also poses significant risks, including to local transit. There would be different and big political challenges in a world where each agency tries to provide funding with single-agency ballot measures.
For example, without a regional measure voters in San Francisco may be asked whether to support funding for Muni, BART, or Caltrain in a single election. Voters in Alameda County may be asked to support BART and AC Transit in a single election.
If BART or Caltrain are forced to slash service due to budget shortfalls, it's hard to imagine Santa Clara or San Mateo County voters being eager to fund transit when they see that the regional network is failing.
This “go at it alone” single-agency scenario seems a more risky strategy than a regional funding measure that brings about a more coordinated network.
Crafting a clear service vision showing benefits around the region
If a 2026 ballot measure is going to succeed, a bold vision that inspires voters and wins their trust is essential. Asking voters to pay more for the status quo is unlikely to succeed. While a regional measure will be crucial for addressing pandemic-induced budget deficits that transit agencies are facing – more than that, we must emphasize that a regional ballot measure will vastly expand service frequency and greatly improve transit coordination efforts to ensure increased service yields maximum outcomes for the riders experience.
Creating a clear vision will be important to mobilize people in support of a ballot measure and combat narratives that a regional measure is just a bailout for transit agencies. Over the next several months, stakeholders must work diligently to craft a ballot measure and clearly communicate that a measure goes above and beyond preserving transit – but that it will also make improvements to increase service frequency, reduce travel times, and increase regional connectivity. To this end, MTC is currently in the process of updating our region’s long-term transit plans with Transit 2050+. This is a prime opportunity to create a service vision for Bay Area transit that can be used to communicate tangible benefits to voters and key stakeholders.
Coordinating schedules is especially important at key transit nodes, such as connections between regional and local transit.
A January poll that we commissioned found that voters are more likely to support a measure when linked to coordinated schedules, integrated fares, expanded regional authority, increased streamlining of transit systems, and the more efficient use of resources. These customer-facing improvements will help build the trust of voters.
Building a multi-sector coalition in support
In short, the multi-sector coalition in support of SB 1031 did not materialize in the strength needed to influence the passage of the bill. Business organizations, labor organizations, transit riders and environmental groups raised various issues to address in the bill, and didn’t yet come together on the common goals of robust transit that improves livelihoods and economies, and keeps pollution out of the air and alleviates climate change.
Before a new bill is introduced, there needs to be a concerted effort to build support from labor groups, the business community, and more community-based organizations. We’ll have to galvanize a multi-sector coalition that can forcefully advocate for the bill. Stakeholders need to refine and better communicate the regional benefits of a regional funding measure so that organizations that were hesitant to support SB 1031 will sign on to the renewed initiative.
This level of coalition building will require even more transit riders organizing throughout the region. Working with our allies in all parts of the Bay Area, including through the Voices for Public Transportation coalition, we’re committed to building up the network needed to mobilize riders to speak up for their demands and get their local organizations to also forcefully speak up in favor of a regional measure.
Final Thoughts
This setback was discouraging, but it is by no means the end for a Bay Area transportation funding measure. A 2026 regional ballot measure remains our best hope to cement a bright path forward for Bay Area transit.
Bay Area residents are still enthusiastic and highly supportive of a ballot measure. And in the discussions about a new bill, it will be critically important for your voices - the voices of people and organizations who support public transportation - to be heard in these conversations.
We are immensely thankful for the thousands of people who helped support SB 1031 by signing petitions; calling into public meetings; talking to their legislators, friends, and family; volunteering to educate and organize transit riders; and attending events. Now, it is time for our movement to double-down on our efforts to build agreement in support of regional funding for a coordinated network.