4/24/24: Major milestone - SB 1031 passes out of 2 Senate Committees. Join us Friday in SF to celebrate!
Big news out of the California State Legislature in regards to SB 1031, The Connect Bay Area Act. Additionally, last call to join our big Launch Party for this bill this Friday at 6pm in San Francisco with Senator Scott Wiener!
In the last 24 hours, the Connect Bay Area Act (Wiener/Wahab) passed two key legislative hurdles – the Senate Revenue & Taxation and the Transportation Committees. The bill is now moving to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB 1031 is the Bay Area’s most transformative piece of public transit legislation in decades. Before these votes, some important amendments were added to the Connect Bay Area Act in response to concerns from transit agencies and other stakeholders. Our recent blog post summarizes those changes. Additional changes were agreed at yesterday’s hearing, and we’ll have more analysis about those changes coming shortly.
Come celebrate the Connect Bay Area Act with us and Senator Scott Wiener this Friday from 6-8pm. As we just mentioned, the bill made its way through two important Senate Committees and will be heading to the Appropriation Committee shortly!
Come learn the most recent updates about the bill, how you can support this crucial effort for Bay Area transit, and how you can help support our work pushing for a 2026 regional ballot measure! Attendance is free but we encourage you to make a donation to help sustain our movement for a well-coordinated, and well-funded regional transportation system. The bill still has many challenges ahead - so advocacy from riders and Seamless Bay Area will be more critical than ever.
Around 7:30pm we’ll hear from Senator Wiener and our other esteemed guest speakers of the night. Seamless Bay Area Co-Executive Directors Ian Griffiths and Adina Levin will share how reforms included in the bill will be crucial for creating a rider-first transit system for all Bay Area residents.
Read our blog posts recapping the most recent amendments that have been added to the bill and why we strongly support SB 1031.
April 27th, 12-3pm – South Bay & Peninsula Housing Advocates Meet Up
This Saturday from 12-3pm, we are co-hosting a meet up with our friends in the pro-housing movement in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties at Off The Rails Brewing Company. Meet with leaders and friends in the region’s housing movement and learn how you can get involved.
May 4th, 3-5pm – Transbay Coalition May the 4th Happy Hour
Our friends at the Transbay Coalition will be hosting a Happy Hour event at the World Famous Turf Club in Hayward with Senator Aisha Wahab on May 4th from 3-5pm. Come get to know fellow public and active transportation supporters & activists from all across the Bay.
May 18th, 10am-3pm – Transit Advocacy in Berkeley
Seamless Bay Area will be at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers Market on May 18th from 10am to 3pm to talk to voters about the importance of public transportation, mobilize people in preparation for a 2026 regional transportation funding measure, and also to get some food and fresh produce. Please fill out this form if you are interested in joining our volunteer crew!