DRAFT - February 2021 Voices for Public Transportation

Platform for a Bay Area Regional Transportation Funding Measure

Our Vision is that residents of all abilities and incomes enjoy accessible transportation options that reliably, affordably, and conveniently get us where we need to go around the region. We have the power to do this by passing a game-changing regional funding measure that will enhance our freedom of movement, while at the same time create good-paying green jobs, and contribute to a clean and healthy environment by reducing car trips and carbon emissions.

Goals

New transportation funding will help accomplish the following:
   - Greater access to opportunities: Greater access to opportunities: People of all ages, abilities, genders, and backgrounds will have more access to jobs, education, housing, and services, building a more equitable economy. Low-income and transit-reliant people will spend less time and money on getting around, so that the benefits of our region's economy are available to them.
   - An excellent transit experience: Riding public transit will be simple, convenient, reliable, and affordable, offering an excellent experience for riders of all abilities. It will work as one seamless, connected network across the region. Riders of all backgrounds will feel comfortable while riding transit, free from the threat of discrimination and harassment.
   - Reduced traffic and greenhouse gas emissions: Millions more people will use sustainable transportation to get around because it is fast, reliable, abundant, and cost-effective. This will help us meet our zero greenhouse gas emission goals, reduce driving and congestion, and improve air quality.
   - Healthy, diverse, economically thriving communities: High quality public transit will be at the heart of walkable, bikeable, affordable communities across the Bay Area, growing the economy while reducing the need for a car. Low-income people will be able to remain in their communities even as they benefit from improved transportation options.
   - Racial, economic, and disability justice-centered process and outcomes: Communities of color, people with low incomes, people with disabilities and labor unions will be engaged from the beginning and their leadership will be prioritized in decision-making.
   - High quality green jobs: Thousands of new good-paying green union jobs in transportation will be created, supported by new pathways to opportunity for those most in need.

Expenditure Priorities

A regional funding measure should focus on the following types of investments with a mixture of near and long-term improvements:

    1.  Improve and increase existing transit service, making it fast, frequent, and reliable.
      - Ensure substantial dedicated operations funding to stabilize existing service, address structural funding deficits, and support excellent local and regional service.
      - Reduce wait times by increasing how often transit comes throughout the day, creating an expanded frequent, connected all-day network.
      - Provide maintenance funds to ensure a state of good repair for transit infrastructure.
      - Improve streets & infrastructure to increase transit speeds and ensure transit is faster than private vehicles when there is traffic.
      - Expand paratransit service with publicly provided "on demand" and flexible options.
      - Develop a zero-emission bus fleet.

    2. Build and run new transit options that connect more people with opportunities and each other.

    3. Build an integrated frequent, rapid, and cost-effective transit network connecting the places where people live, work, and play, filling gaps in the existing network.
      - Create transformative new transportation options that dramatically improve the competitiveness of transit relative to driving.
      - Expand and enhance walking, biking, and new non-car options as a key part of getting around.
      - Build an interconnected all-abilities bicycle network that prioritizes reach into historically disadvantaged communities.
      - Redesign existing streets to be "complete streets," prioritizing non-car options, increasing safety of pedestrians and cyclists, and providing excellent connections to transit.

    4. Create an easy-to-use, accessible, seamless and affordable transportation system.
      - Provide funding for coordinating and integrating the regional system to minimize complexity for riders and expand transit use.
      - Create integrated, affordable fares, expanding reduced-fare and free-fare programs throughout the Bay Area for the riders who need them most.
      - Prioritize high quality transit access for low-income communities.
      - Upgrade infrastructure to implement universal design standards that ensure equitable access for people of all abilities.

    5. Reimagine public safety: support community-led efforts to reduce gender, racial, and discriminatory harassment and violence.

Accompanying Policies

In order to achieve these goals, all measure investments will:
   - Prioritize the needs of disadvantaged communities, including persons with disabilities, low-income communities, and communities of color: New investments and improved service will be paired with strong policies and affordable housing incentives that protect against the physical or economic displacement of disadvantaged residents. A social equity fund will help address historical inequities, and will be spent supporting underserved communities through a Participatory Budgeting process.
   - Plan for both capital and operating costs: Transit expansion and capital projects must include sufficient funding for operations and maintenance as a condition of approval.
   - Outcome-oriented investments: Projects will be identified, evaluated, and funded based on how they accomplish specific goals, and not chosen piecemeal. Goals and metrics will be informed by a robust community engagement and planning process. Regular reviews of project benefits and costs should determine a project's readiness to advance and receive funding for each subsequent stage of project delivery.
   - Fund quality jobs: The thousands of new operating and construction jobs created by new transit investments and increased service will focus on local hire, good working conditions, a livable wage, and public-sector union contracts. A workforce development fund will help train new employees and ensure a robust workforce.
   - Plan for climate change: Investments will reduce vehicle miles traveled to meet or exceed state targets. Expenditures will enable the region to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Projects will be built for resilience to uncertain and changing conditions. No funds will be spent on roads and highways to increase driving.