BART Board supports SB 532, the Safe, Clean, and Reliable Public Transportation Emergency Act
The BART Board voted Friday, June 30th, to support Senate Bill (SB) 532 the Safe, Clean, and Reliable Public Transportation Emergency Act.
Authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), SB 532 would require the Bay Area Toll Authority to raise tolls on the seven state-owned bridges in the Bay Area by $1.50 from January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2028. Revenues from this toll increase would be distributed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to BART and other fixed-route transit operators, including bus, rail or ferry, to address operating shortfalls and help fund initiatives to increase transit ridership.
“In authoring this bill, Senator Wiener continues to show extraordinary leadership in finding creative ways to assist essential public transit through the immense short-term financial difficulties we face in the wake of the pandemic,” said BART Board President Janice Li. “We are so grateful for the Senator’s support for transit, and we look forward to supporting SB 532 through the legislative process.”
President Li also acknowledged the hard work and assistance of SB 532 co-authors Senators Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) and Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Alex Lee (D-Milpitas), Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).
SB 532 offers Bay Area transit agencies experiencing the worst shortfalls a lifeline until a Bay Area regional transportation funding measure can be placed on the ballot, most likely in 2026.
The state budget agreement reached earlier this week also offers short-term help for BART, although it’s not yet clear how much money BART will receive or when it will receive it.