Expenditure Proposal for a Bay Area Regional Transportation

Funding Measure

Voices for Public Transportation

Revenue Source: Responsibility for funding the next generation of transportation investments will come from those with the ability to pay and not burden small businesses, working families and low-income residents.
   - Use progressive revenue sources--no sales tax.
   - Allow for a variety of revenue mechanisms, including income tax, head tax, parcel tax, and corporate parking tax.

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

    1. Operating funds to improve and increase existing transit service, to create a fast, frequent, and reliable transit system that is competitive with driving for all trips.
      - Ensure substantial dedicated operations funding (at least 30%)
         - These funds are in addition to existing operating dollars, not a replacement for operating dollars
         - Preserve and expand service during both commute (peak) and non-commute (off-peak) hours
         - Essential service improvements to be delivered within one year of passage to provide immediate benefits to transit dependent users

    2. Create an easy-to-use, accessible, seamless and affordable transportation system.
      - Provide dedicated funding for fare affordability (at least 10%) that builds toward a fareless transit system for all. These funds are to be used for:
         - Fare integration across the network, including fare capping
         - Increasing service without increasing fares
         - Free transit for youth
      - Dedicated funds (at least 10%) for a network manager function to create a seamless transit network across the Bay Area

    3. Expand and enhance walking, biking, and new non-car options as a key part of getting around.
      - Fund low-stress routes linking all transit stations, schools and job centers, including regional connections, freeway overcrossings and maintenance.
      - Subsidize operation of shared mobility to support students, seniors, and low-income users.
      - Fund community transportation programs such as Safe Routes to School, Open Streets program, and Neighborhood Mobility hubs.

    4. Build and run new transit options that connect more people with opportunities and each other.
      - Take an outcomes-oriented approach to funding new transit projects, evaluating them against robust metrics.
         - Dedicate funds for conducting a robust community engagement and multistakeholder process in the creation of metrics.
      - Ensure quality good paying union jobs by focusing on PLA's, local hire, good working conditions, a livable wage, and public-sector union contracts.
      - Transit expansion and capital projects must include sufficient funding for operations and maintenance as a condition of approval.

    5. Rectify historical inequalities in the transportation system.
      - Create a social equity fund, with spending to be determined through a Participatory Budgeting process. Expenditures will include community-determined priorities such as anti-displacement support, a gender equity action plan, and unarmed community de-escalators.
      - Develop a workforce development fund that will help train new employees and ensure a robust workforce.

Treat climate crisis with the urgency it deserves?: 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.