Bay Area transit sales-tax measure hits critical milestone

Voters in the Bay Area’s five most-populous counties are one step closer to deciding on a regional sales-tax measure aimed at preventing future service cuts by cash-strapped public transit agencies.

The Connect Bay Area Act campaign on Tuesday submitted more than 305,000 signatures to county elections departments, which organizers said exceeded the 186,000 valid signatures needed to bring the vote before residents this fall.

If approved, local leaders will be allowed to impose an additional 1% sales tax in San Francisco and 0.5% in four other locales — Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties — to help fund their respective buses, trains, ferries and other modes of public transportation.

Public-transit operators have said that absent financial relief, they will be forced to reduce service by eliminating lines, closing stations and making other reductions.



https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/bay-area-transit-sales-tax-ballot-measure-gets-signatures/article_ee40db12-2421-4113-adf4-a213c08e7813.html