Supporters of a proposed sales tax that would shore up the Bay Area's transit agencies garnered over 300,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot.
A campaign to get a proposed sales tax to fund the Bay Area's struggling public transit agencies onto the November ballot was successful, blowing well past the necessary 186,000 signatures needed to qualify the measure.
As Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman explains in an article for KQED, "The Connect Bay Area Act would create a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco County for 14 years, which is expected to generate around $1 billion annually for BART, Muni, AC Transit and Caltrain, among others Bay Area agencies, which are facing steep budget deficits due to pandemic-related drops in ridership and revenue." The Connect Bay Area campaign says they collected over 300,000 signatures, which will be verified by county election officials.
According to a report released last week, the four regional transit agencies saved over $1 billion between July 2019 and 2025 through "efficiencies and revenue-enhancing measures." The report was mandated as the first phase of a fiscal efficiency review required for the sales tax to be possible. "The second phase of the financial review will happen only if voters approve the Connect Bay Area Act in November."
FULL STORY: Campaign to Fund Bay Area Transit Smashes Signature Gathering Goal
Oklahoma City bets on transit
The city's mayor is urging residents to support a new sales tax that would fund transit expansion in the growing city.
Despite 47% growth in ridership, Caltrain could close a third of its stations
Riders can currently travel up to 79 miles between San Francisco and Gilroy, California.
BART Announces Major Service Cuts, Fare Increases in Face of $376M Deficit
If a November ballot measure fails to bring new funding, BART’s ‘alternative service plan’ would reduce frequencies to 30 minutes, raise fares by 30%, and close up to 15 stations.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association