Written by: InfrastructureWeak Despite operating reduced service since 2020, like many Bay Area transit operators, AC Transit has been projecting a ~$35 million annual budget deficit beginning next year, as revenue growth falls behind expenses and pandemic financial support expires. The AC Transit Board will hear at its Wednesday meeting this week, with updated revenue […]
This past year was the most successful year yet for Transbay Coalition’s work to improve transit, biking, and street safety throughout the Bay Area. Thank YOU for helping make that happen. Whether you donated, volunteered, came to an event, or spoke out for a better transportation system in the region, you made our region a
Discussion about a regional transportation funding measure has resumed with a “Select Committee” created by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission with the goal of developing options and agreement for 2025 legislation to authorize a regional transportation funding measure. The 2024 effort toward authorizing legislation with SB1031 was halted by Senator Wiener at the end of May,
On Wednesday May 1 and Thursday, May 2, the SamTrans, Caltrain, and VTA boards will review their positions on AB1831, the Connect Bay Area Act. This important bill would authorize a regional transportation funding measure that would keep transit running at Caltrain, BART, and other agencies facing post-pandemic budget challenges, and would support more frequent
On, Friday April 12, the Metropolitan Transportation Legislation Committee approved a set of proposed amendments to SB1031. The amendments refine the funding formula to ensure funding for all counties including those that have fewer agencies facing post-pandemic fiscal challenges; clean up language about a consolidation study; and set guardrails on MTC’s authority to coordinate service.
Initial analysis from MTC’s Connected Network Plan reveals the service gaps that transit users experience on the southern transbay bridges between San Mateo and Alameda Counties. For the first time in history, the Bay Area is approaching its long-range transportation planning with an assessment of travel demand and the level of service needed to address
On January 24, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted to pursue authorizing legislation in 2024 for a regional transportation funding measure that could go on the ballot as soon as 2026, and could be used in future years. The proposal would authorize MTC to put a measure on the ballot with goals for transit transformation, safe
At the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in December, at the Legislation Committee on December 8 and the full Commission on December 20, Commissioners discussed proposed policies to increase voter confidence and improve agency accountability in the context of a regional transportation funding measure. MTC is looking to sponsor legislation in 2024 for a ballot measure in
Clipper BayPass – the Bay Area’s successful all-agency transit pass pilot – is taking an important step forward, expanding from the first set of institutional customers – public colleges/universities and affordable housing communities – to employers by the end of this year. The program’s first phase is showing impressive results – users with the all-agency
New polling data from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission shows that voters support transit but want improvements – and there’s a virtuous cycle between better transit and voter support. At its workshop in Napa on April 26, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission discussed the new polling about potential ballot measures for public transportation and housing. Overall, voters
On Friday, January 13, the MTC Legislation Committee will receive updates will about preparations for a regional transit funding measure in partnership with transit agencies. The presentation was also given at MTC’s Policy Advisory Council on Wednesday January 11. This groundwork is being planned for 2023, for authorizing legislation in 2024, for a potential
A new study funded by the State of California concluded that there are potential benefits to be gained from regionalizing capabilities of the region’s fragmented rail system. ‘Regionalized’ capabilities would be led and managed by a single entity across the region. The Regional Rail Partnership Study was conducted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in partnership
At this week’s MTC Programming and Allocations Committee meeting on Wednesday morning and BART board meeting on Thursday morning, the Bay Area’s regional planning organization and largest regional transit agency are starting to grapple with the impending financial crisis when federal Covid relief funding runs out as transit ridership has been returning gradually. The Bay
On Friday, June 10, a joint legislation committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments – the regional governing bodies that focus on transportation and housing – will consider options to provide funding for affordable housing and public transportation. A $10B bond measure to fund affordable housing is being considered for
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission will consider approving an integrated strategy to pursue funding from the recently passed federal infrastructure law. This strategy would fund a set projects that improve and connect rail around the bay, including Completion of Caltrain electrification The Downtown Extension connecting Caltrain to the salesforce terminalDiridon Station upgrades to accommodate High
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
On Monday, December 13 at 2pm, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is convening a “listening session” to start to consider the potential for a regional funding measure for public transportation in 2024. According to MTC analysis, transit services face a fiscal cliff in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, when Federal relief funding that has
Courtesy of Bay Area Metro On Wednesday Feb 12, 2020, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee will review studies exploring options to speed transbay transit trips. The conclusion of their assessment is that delays are longer on the approaches, so the first step should be to speed up the approaches, and
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is changing the controversial proposal to require 60% of office employees to work from home to a requirement that 60% of employees avoid driving to work. The change provides much more flexibility to support the use of transit, walking, and bicycling in addition to telework, while reducing driving miles and climate
