Nov 2024 Election Results: Vast majority of Bay Area street safety, transit-oriented development ballot measure win
Despite the national election results which paint a risky 4-years for federal public and active transportation funding, Bay Area voters overwhelmingly approved ballot measures in the November 2024 election to improve active transportation, transit-oriented development, and public transit.
Residents in Albany, Benicia, Berkeley, Cotati, and San Francisco approved measures that will improve safe street infrastructure. City of San Mateo residents also approved building taller, denser housing near Caltrain Stations, El Camino Real Blvd, and their downtown area.
Berkeley will see safer streets, more bicycle infrastructure
Volunteers on the Yes of FF campaign in Berkeley.
Berkeley voters have passed Measure FF with 60% of the vote. This measure will raise approximately $15 million annually over 14 years for active transportation improvements via parcel tax of $0.17 per square foot on residential units and $0.25 per square foot of improvements on other properties. This can be increased annually for inflation.
Revenues from Measure FF can be used on the City of Berkeley’s Vision Zero Action Plan, Pedestrian Plan, Bicycle Plan, or Complete Streets Policy (or any successor plans adopted by the City). Funds can also be used for Safe Routes to Schools Safety Assessments or Improvement Plans.
More specifically:
45% of funds will be allocated for streets and 15% for sidewalks and pedestrian paths, until the backlog of damaged sidewalks and pedestrian paths is eliminated.
30% of safety improvements to sidewalks, streets, and highways which could include bicycle lanes, traffic control signals, retractable bollards, curb management, transit lanes (that also serve emergency vehicles) and more.
10% of environmental enhancements such as permeable surfaces, street trees, transit rider facilities, community spaces, planted verges and medians, and other green infrastructure.
These percentages would no longer be required if the average citywide Pavement Conditions Index (PCI) rises to a 70 or higher. In 2022 Berkeley’s PCI was 56, below the Bay Area average and categorized as “at risk”.
Transit-oriented development measure passes in the City of San Mateo
Measure T allows for higher building heights and density limits mostly along El Camino Real Blvd, near Caltrain Stations, and in downtown. The Measure allows for 8 story buildings in some areas, which could increase to 10 stories in areas where state density bonus laws apply.
Measure T amends the previous Measure Y, passed in 2020, which limited height limits to 5 stories in most parts of the City - though they could reach 7 to 9 stories via the state density bonus.
San Francisco passes Prop B and K pass, opening up the “Upper Great Highway” as a park and increased funding for safe street improvements
A portion of the “Upper Great Highway” is now permanently closed for private vehicles after San Francisco voters passed Prop K with 55% of the vote. The stretch of highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard is now San Francisco’s newest park. For context, in August 2020 San Francisco temporarily limited vehicle travel on this section of the highway to provide safe open space for recreational purposes during the height of the pandemic. Then in August 2021, the City modified the restriction to only apply between Fridays at noon and Mondays at 6am and on holidays.
The “Great Highway Extension” between Sloat and Skyline Boulevard is already set to close also due to concerns over coastal erosion, sea level rise, and to protect wastewater infrastructure.
Measure K will close the Upper Great Highway (highlighted in blue) to private car travel. The Great Highway Extension (highlighted in red) was already set to close to protect public infrastructure and over concerns of coastal erosion.
Additionally, sidewalk and street safety projects across the City will get an additional $64 million in funding with the passes of Prop B.
Despite getting 57% of the vote, San Francisco’s Prop L fails.
Prop L, or the ComMUNIty Transit Act, proposed taxing transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber, Lyft, and Waymo at a rate between 1% to 4.5% to fund Muni to the tune of $30 million annually. Unfortunately, the ComMUNIty Transit Act will not go into effect as Prop M, a business tax overhaul, received a greater number of votes and included a “poison pill” making Prop L null and void.
This measure would have helped sustain Muni service in the immediate future while our region continues to hammer out the details of a 2026 regional transportation ballot measure. If no action is taken Muni’s budget deficit is anticipated to hit a $300+ million annual budget deficit in July 2026. SFMTA has already started to make service cuts, and without additional funding, the outcome will be much deeper service cuts, reduced staffing, and worse outcomes for riders.
Yes on L campaign volunteers and organizers.
Despite this loss, the support for Prop L shows support for public transit remains high. This support was in large part due to the massive ground organization by San Francisco transit and safe street advocates. As we prepare for the 2026 regional transportation ballot measure, this activist led, door-to-door campaigning model will be crucial to replicate across the Bay Area. A massive signature gathering campaign will likely be needed to pass a regional ballot measure to lower the voter threshold from two-thirds to 50%+1.
It is essential to maintain and improve public transit and active transportation to enable San Francisco to achieve its climate goals, as the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the city, accounting for 44% of City emissions. Private cars and trucks account for the vast majority (72%) of transportation greenhouse gas emissions, while Muni accounted for less than 1%.
Cotati votes to allow traffic circles, roundabouts
Voters in Cotati have passed Measure S with 60% of the vote. This will remove the City’s existing ban on constructing roundabouts, traffic circles, and other similar traffic features. Cotati was the only city in the Bay Area to have a ban on roundabouts when voters previously enacted a ban in 2012.
Roundabouts are a safer alternative to traffic signals and stops as their configuration forces drivers to slow down, reducing the likelihood of the most severe intersection crashes. Roundabouts are also more environmentally friendly, as they reduce the time automobiles spend idling at intersections and often improve the flow of traffic. They are typically cheaper too, with no need to pay for the maintenance and upfront costs of traffic signals.
Albany pedestrian infrastructure to get new funding
Albany voters have also passed Measure C with 70% of the vote. This measure will generate approximately $400,000 annually through 2035 to repair and upgrade sidewalks and pathways consistent with the City’s Sidewalk and Pathway Repair Policy. Revenue will be generated from a parcel tax of $0.017 per lot square foot that can be adjusted for inflation up to 3% annually. This can include widening sidewalks up to 5 feet and removing obstructions to improve safety and accessibility.
Benicia will significantly expand its annual street, road, and sidewalk repair funding
Benicia voters have passed Measure F with 61% of the vote. This measure implements a 0.5% sales tax to be used to repair and improve streets, roads, and sidewalks which is expected to raise $4,000,000 annually.