"Without new funding and as emergency federal and state aid runs out, Bay Area transit systems will be forced to make devastating service cuts that would push public transit into a death spiral."
"With so many disparate interests out there, there's tremendous risk to this ending badly."
Bay Area Democrats in the state Legislature are pushing a bill, SB 63, aimed at raising sales taxes to support declining public transit agencies. The tax increase would allow voters to decide in 2026 on a half-cent sales tax, potentially generating $550 million annually. Key lawmakers express concerns due to mixed public support and business-labor conflicts. With public transit ridership falling post-pandemic, agencies like BART face significant funding gaps, risking severe service cuts that would disproportionately affect low-income communities and hinder regional recovery.
Read at The Mercury News
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