As gas prices climb, people are turning to hybrids, EVs, bikes, and public transit.

Last week, the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, or AC Transit, announced that the agency had seen the first year-over-year ridership increase over three consecutive months this decade, which the agency called “a major milestone in the East Bay’s transit recovery.” AC Transit said the data showed a greater demand across its service area. 

The November ballot will include a pair of transit funding measures.

"Political experts say a proposed $183 million parcel tax to fund Muni is likely to pass with ease, highlighting the city’s enduring support for public transit. "But a separate regional sales tax measure to fund BART, Muni, and 10 other Bay Area transit agencies faces a far more uncertain path. Both measures, slated for the November ballot, require a simple majority to pass."

Rider fares, fees, tax revenue, and grants that funded transit systems collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

70% of BART’s funding came from rider fares and parking fees that haven’t recovered. Transit agencies can’t provide pre-pandemic service with post-pandemic funding.

Ridership won’t recover by closing stations, the cable car lines, running fewer trains and buses, and ending service at 9:00pm. Sustainable service requires a more sustainable funding source.

“The campaign aims to put a parcel tax measure on the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would generate around $160 million for Muni annually in order to help stave off those cuts. I It’s one of two campaigns now underway to generate revenue for Bay Area transit agencies. The campaign for the Connect Bay Area Act, a regional sales tax measure that would generate around $1 billion annually for Muni, AC Transit, BART and Caltrain, among others, began gathering signatures in late January.”

A $590 million short-term state loan will save the SFMTA, BART, Caltrain, and AC Transit from drastic cuts, for now.

"This emergency loan is a critical band-aid. It holds off disastrous transit cuts until long-term, significant funding can come through from the Connect Bay Area measure," said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who championed the loan along with Senator Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley), in a joint statement. We spent much of the past year negotiating this loan with regional stakeholders and the Governor, and I’m immensely proud that we got it over the finish line."

Connect Bay Area is a regional funding measure that will add a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and a full cent in San Francisco for 14 years.

Local transit and transport agencies are facing a financial crisis, but there are multiple funding measures in the works to try to avoid it.

In San Francisco, it’s all about transit. State lawmakers from the Bay Area are pushing a new sales tax to fund regional services(opens in new tab), while Mayor Daniel Lurie is supporting a new parcel tax to shore up money for Muni.