Senator Scott Wiener is advocating for new funding to prevent severe service cuts to BART and Muni due to financial challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. As fare revenues plummet and federal funding is uncertain under the Trump administration, drastic measures like reducing train frequency and eliminating weekend services may occur. The Connect Bay Area Act proposes a sales tax in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties to bolster transit funding, with added provisions for nearby counties to join. The success of this measure hinges on voter approval in November 2026, facing a two-thirds majority requirement.
"If we do nothing, we will see catastrophic service cuts," Wiener told the Chronicle before a press conference introducing the measure.
"When you cut service, more and more people stop riding. That means even more of a reduction in fare revenue, which leads to more service cuts... Rinse and repeat."
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