As the Bay Area inches closer to realizing a significant shift in transit funding, Senate Bill 63, also known as the Connect Bay Area Act, has been approved by the California Legislature. This potential game-changer for public transportation could grant voters the ability to implement a sales tax dedicated to regional transit in the November 2026 ballot, as CBS San Francisco reported.
Under the bill's provisions, which still awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature or veto by October 12, five counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco - might see a 0.5% sales tax increase for transit funding, with San Francisco possibly facing a raise up to 1% to bolster Muni services, as described by state Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín who are spearheading the bill. Although no one relishes higher taxes, Senator Wiener has expressed an urgency in persuading voters of the necessity of such measures due to the untenable alternative.
Meanwhile, BART has already signaled their support for SB 63, citing the vital need for reinforced funding due to the hefty deficits projected after emergency assistance expires at the end of FY 2026. Operating deficits are expected to fall between $350 and $400 million annually, as per a BART news release. The organization also acknowledges that, while this bill would cover a significant part of the shortfall and uphold service levels, further cost-saving measures will be necessary to bridge the forecasted fiscal gap.
The SFMTA, facing its own deficit of $307 million starting in 2026, has already enacted measures to curtail a previous shortfall of over $440 million resulting in $130 million in savings yet remains adamant that more must be done to preserve and improve Muni service, with SB 63 seen as a step toward safeguarding these essential services and facing the evolving demands of San Francisco, as stated in a release captured by CBS San Francisco.
Carter Lavin, transit advocate and co-founder of the Transbay Coalition advocacy group, voiced his daily dependency on the Bay Area's public transit to CBS San Francisco, stressing that BART and local buses are not just conveniences but necessities, integral to the function of the community even more so he projected that SB 63, if accepted by voters, would amass hundreds of millions in annual transit funds across the five counties over the course of 14 years, cementing a long-term financial foundation that the area has substantially lacked.
