Bay Area Voters Approve Transit Taxes to Avert Service Cuts

Voters in the San Francisco Bay Area approved two tax measures on Tuesday to prevent drastic cuts to bus and train service. Initial results from five counties showed Measure RTM passing with 61.6 percent support.

Measure RTM is a 14-year regional sales tax covering Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. It imposes a 0.5 percent sales tax in four counties and a 1 percent sales tax in San Francisco to raise about $1 billion annually for BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain and other agencies.

“This is a huge win for public transit.”

The revenue will maintain current service levels and fund fare discounts, accessibility and wayfinding programs. San Francisco's separate Proposition H passed with 72.5 percent support.

Proposition H is a parcel tax that will generate an estimated $184 million annually for San Francisco's Muni transit service over 15 years. Property owners will be taxed at different rates based on property type and size.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie called saving Muni critical to saving the city. BART General Manager Bob Powers spoke at an election night party in the SoMa neighborhood.

The measures respond to the end of emergency pandemic funds and shifting ridership patterns. Transit advocates say high-quality transit should be treated as a public service accessible to everyone.