Warning of ‘death spiral,’ lawmakers seek $2B tax hike for transit
Senate Bill 1031 would amass between $750 million and $2 billion a year through taxes to beef up funding across the nine Bay Area counties in an attempt to avoid service cuts and improve roadways.
The legislation would also call for a plan to consolidate at least some of the 27 transit operators across the region in response to years of mounting complaints from riders who have described the labyrinth of bureaucratic agencies as confusing and a barrier to better service.
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“We’re building a legacy of transit that will bring the Bay Area forward,” said state Sen. Aisha Wahab, who is co-sponsoring the bill with Wiener.
Chonita Chew, a Berkeley resident who helps advocate for seniors seeking better transit options, told The Standard that Wiener and Wahab's bill will help provide a vital service for her community but will likely take a lot of heavy lifting on behalf of elected officials and organizers to see to completion.