Council Scores Big Win to Save + Improve Transit

After months of tireless advocacy, the Bay Area Council applauded the state Legislature this week as it voted to approve a two-party budget deal that addresses the urgent financial crisis facing transit agencies across the state, while state officials continue to work out the details of the accountability measures that will be associated with the funding. The agreement includes $3 billion of funding to help keep transit running and avoid severe service cuts that would have ground our economy to a halt. Specifically, the deal restores $2 billion of transit capital funding that was cut in the Governor’s May Revise and allows that money to be used for operations and, critically, provides $1.1 billion of new and previously appropriated transit funding to help cover the transit operating shortfall for a couple years. The Council continues to push to ensure that this relief money is used to compel improvements on the transit systems, including providing state oversight to ensure that transit agencies are held accountable to improve rider experience and cut costs to increase efficiency internally.

“For millions of commuters, for our economy and for our environment, saving public transit is critical,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “We’re very encouraged by the outlines of the plan reached in the Legislature to provide funding for public transit. This plan offers a temporary lifeline that will delay draconian service cuts and provide valuable time to identify more cost-saving measures in operations and explore new sources of revenue. We applaud the tireless leadership of state Sen. Scott Wiener in moving this issue forward and extend our deepest thanks to Budget Committee Chairs Sen. Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Phil Ting, along with Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins and Speaker Anthony Rendon. We urge Gov. Newsom to continue working with the Legislature to save our vital public transit systems from the coming fiscal cliff and keep California moving.”

Negotiations now ramp up between the Legislature and the Administration as they work toward a three-party budget agreement that should be finalized by the end of the month.