Silicon Valley senator wants to consolidate 27 transit agencies
Transit agencies across the Bay Area are suffering from low ridership and fiscal strain. One lawmaker thinks combining them may be a solution.
State Sen. Aisha Wahab, whose district covers Sunnyvale and Milpitas, has submitted a bill asking the California State Transportation Agency to create a plan that would consolidate the Bay Area’s 27 transit agencies. She cites a need for better efficiency and more fiscal stability, and said low ridership coupled with financial losses over the past few years means it’s time for change.
“It is not cheaper, faster, safer or anything for the average rider,” Wahab told San José Spotlight. “I want to make sure that we prioritize the rider and their experience first and foremost, and I believe that with 27 agencies, there are too many chefs in the kitchen.”
The foremost problem is the region’s public transit systems are inefficient, Wahab said, pointing toward declining ridership even before COVID.
[...]
Transportation advocate Rod Diridon Sr. said a consolidated regional transit system is necessary to avoid terminal gridlock caused by relentless traffic congestion. Diridon said the best solution for riders is consolidation.
[...]
Diridon, namesake of San Jose’s downtown transit hub Diridon Station, has championed the concept of cars, buses and rail working in unison across the county and region. Combining agencies would work toward this goal of interconnectivity. It would decrease redundant administrative costs and lead to a more efficient rider experience, he said.