Bay Area transit tax leads across all five counties

A regional sales tax measure to fund Bay Area transit was ahead with roughly 62% support in preliminary returns Thursday. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s tally showed Measure RTM leading in all five participating counties. The measure needs a majority of votes cast across the five counties combined. County election officials are still counting ballots.

What shoppers would pay and where the money would go

The 14-year tax would add 50 cents to a $100 taxable purchase in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and $1 in San Francisco. The commission estimates it would bring in about $980 million a year.

Roughly 63% of the revenue would go to running bus, train and ferry services, including BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit. Local transportation agencies would receive roughly one-third for uses such as maintaining service, buying vehicles or repaving roads that carry buses. Another share would fund rider improvements such as better signs, accessibility upgrades and discounted fares, as well as oversight.

Service cuts and agency spending were at issue

Transit agencies warned that without additional operating revenue, they would have to cut service. Before the vote, BART outlined potential cuts aimed at closing an annual operating shortfall of about $350 million to $400 million. The opposition campaign argued that transit agencies should redirect existing funding before asking shoppers to pay more, KQED reported.

If the measure is approved, the commission expects to begin a second round of financial reviews in 2027. BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit would have to adopt plans to carry out cost savings by early 2028.