Bay Area: Yes on Measure RTM

Do you take any form of public transit in the Bay Area? Do you drive? Consider supporting Measure RTM. Sales taxes suck but what would suck even more are existential cuts to our transit systems AND more traffic.

“Without the measure, numerous Bay Area transit agencies have indicated substantial cuts, including BART. The proposed cuts to BART include two phases, one in January 2027 that would close the San Bruno, South San Francisco, Orinda, North Concord/Martinez, Pittsburg Center, Castro Valley, West Dublin/Pleasanton, South Hayward, and Warm Springs/South Fremont stations, as well as stopping all service on the Coliseum-Oakland International Airport connector line. An additional Phase 2 planned for July 2027 would close the Millbrae, Colma, Pittsburg/Bay Point, Antioch, and Dublin/Pleasanton stations. The plan also calls for BART to stop service at 9 pm and reduce frequency of trains to 30 minutes.

Caltrain suggested that without this funding, it would need to close more than one-third of stations, eliminate weekend service, and reduce frequency of trains.

AC Transit's contingency plan calls for removing 100 buses from service, less frequent service, no weekend transbay routes, and shorter service hours.

SFMTA — which has an additional local ballot measure before San Francisco voters to support its funding — plans to cut up to 20 bus lines, suspend cable cars, and end service early.

An analysis by local think tank SPUR found that the impact of these transit closures would double rush-hour delays on the Bay Bridge and increase gridlock in key traffic choke points.”