Advocates from TransForm, Voices for Public Transportation (VPT), and other allies showed up in Sacramento on April 23 to urge passage of the Connect the Bay Bill, SB 1031, and the Senate Transportation Committee passed the measure with a strong majority. The bill is a crucial step in authorizing a regional funding mechanism to ensure the health of the Bay Area’s public transportation systems and our streets and roads.
Thank you to everyone who came in person to the committee hearing. Your strong show of support sent a message to legislators and will help us achieve our goal of passing a robust funding measure to support public transit.
The Connect the Bay Bill also passed the Revenue and Taxation Committee; it moves next to Appropriations before going to a vote on the full Senate floor. As the bill moves through the legislature, TransForm and our allies continue to apply pressure to ensure we get a strong and progressive measure to put before Bay Area voters.
Last minute amendments
The bill was amended in committee to set a goal of raising $1.5 billion annually. This amount is the minimum needed to increase transit service and biking and walking, so this is a positive development.
Another amendment sets a limit on a sales tax as a possible funding mechanism to no more than half a cent. We have advocated for other funding mechanisms because sales taxes are regressive, placing the burden most heavily on people with the least means, but sales taxes are the most common funding source for measures like this. The limit on the amount of potential sales tax means that other options for raising the needed revenue must be considered, and we support that.
The bill is authorizing legislation to allow the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to place this before the voters in 2026. Bill language now limits MTC to placing one measure on the ballot, which is in alignment with our goals.