TransitTop story
Voters in five Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara, approve the Regional Transit Measure
Every county backed the transit tax, and Santa Clara's yes vote was the smallest
Source: Bay Area Reporter
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Santa Clara | 53.8% |
| Contra Costa | 56% |
| San Mateo | 59.6% |
| Alameda | 64.9% |
| San Francisco | 77.6% |
If you ride BART or Caltrain, here's the news: voters in five Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara, approved the Regional Transit Measure. Preliminary returns put the regional yes vote at 61.5%, with majorities in every county. Santa Clara County was the closest at 53.8%.
The sales tax is a half-cent in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties and a cent in San Francisco. KQED reports it will generate about $1 billion a year to maintain current service at BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain and other agencies.
- Starts: April
- Lasts: 14 years
- Caltrain's share: about 7% of the revenue each year
- Without it: BART, Caltrain and Muni warned of service cuts
What the tax is expected to bring in each year
- $980 million
- expected from the tax across the region
- $310 million
- approximate yearly share for BART
- $155 million
- approximate yearly share for the SFMTA, which oversees Muni
Source: The Voice of San Francisco
BART said the measure prevents station closures and dramatic service reductions, but it "does not eliminate BART’s financial challenges." Before the vote, BART faced a $375 million deficit and Caltrain a $75 million shortfall.
