6/24/25: You helped prevent imminent transit service cuts!
This morning, Governor Newsom and the state legislature announced a budget agreement to save public transit. Instead of the initial proposal which would have cut transit funding by $1.1B, we blocked the cuts AND won an additional $750M loan to Bay Area transit agencies so they can get through 2026 without needing to make drastic service cuts.
You – along with tens of thousands of Californians and our coalition of 120+ organizations – spoke out in support of transit and won. Whether you sent an email, called your elected representatives, put up flyers, donated, shared the alerts, or did something else to help speak out for transit, this victory wouldn’t have been possible without the work you and everyone else put in. Thank you for being part of this big team effort.
While California transit service still faces an uncertain future in 2027 and beyond, this victory stops massive cuts in the near-term to the transit service our communities depend on. But we still have lots of work to do to put Bay Area transit on good footing for the long-term and make service frequent, reliable, affordable, accessible, and rider-friendly.
That's why we are organizing a big rally to get San Mateo County and turning out public comment at SamTrans, VTA, and MTC in the coming week. Read on to learn more about both of these efforts and more.
Speak up at MTC, VTA and SamTrans meetings to ensure transit funding that delivers seamless transit
TOMORROW MORNING (Wednesday, June 25), MTC will vote on a recommendation for the funding from the regional measure for Rider-Focused "Transit Transformation” investments policies that make transit more rider-friendly - better coordinated and affordable, faster and more reliable. MTC staff are proposing to cut the funds for these popular programs that are essential to grow ridership and maximize voter support for transit funding - so please speak up at this June 25th meeting.
It is critical to the success of the measure that San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties opt-in since their participation will be key to raising enough funds to keep multi-county services Caltrain and BART running without service cuts and so that our region can continue and strengthen transit coordination efforts.
The San Mateo County decision will be made by SamTrans, with input from C/CAG and SMCTA (the transportation funding agency). This sounds and is complicated - the meaning for transit riders is that we need to continue a drumbeat of support at all of these agencies.
Rally to Save BART & Caltrain in San Mateo County (Millbrae Station) | Tuesday, July 1st from 5:30-6:30pm
We need to get the attention of San Mateo County leaders because, right now, they are deciding whether the County should join a regional funding measure that would save BART, Caltrain, Muni, AC Transit, and other transit agencies. If San Mateo County does not join this regional effort, BART and Caltrain will be forced to slash service in the County: stranding riders, clogging our roads, fouling our air, and stalling our economy.
That's why community groups and local advocates are mobilizing at a Rally to Save BART & Caltrain in San Mateo County on Tuesday, July 1st from 5:30-6:30pm at Millbrae Station.
Join the rally and help pressure local elected officials to “opt-in” to this critical regional transportation funding measure!
Move Bay Area East Bay Summit (Oakland) | Friday, June 27th from 9:00am - 3:00pm
Explore the connections between climate, health and transportation, and how we all benefit from cleaner air and abundant, accessible, affordable and safe public transportation at the Move Bay Area East Bay Summit.
This free event brings together public officials, community advocates, and transportation leaders to explore the connections between climate, health, and transportation and build a regional transportation vision together.
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Biketivist Forum Series (Online) | Wednesday, June 25th from 5:00-7:00pm
At this free, online Biketivist Forum, Carter Lavin of Transbay Coalition and Seamless Bay Area's very own Adina Levin will be presenting about San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties opting into Bay Area’s transportation funding measure and the recent state budget victory.
The goal of Biketivist Forums is to create collaboration among all of SVBC’s members and give you an opportunity to meet and connect with your neighbors to organize around better biking and sustainable transportation in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Get involved in Transit Month 2025
Seamless Bay Area and San Francisco Transit Riders are co-leading Bay Area Transit Month again this year – a month of activities and contests in September organized by dozens of community-based organizations and public agencies to celebrate the central role public transit plays in our communities. We are now laying the groundwork for Transit Month 2025!
If you're part of an organization and want to learn about getting involved, fill out this form or respond to this email.
If you want to get plugged in as an individual, fill out this form.
Recent from our Blog
Agencies step up to improve transfers at more transit hubs
In August, transit agencies will take the next step to improve transfers for riders, adding four more transit hubs to the “big sync” initiative. Transfers will be improved at Daly City BART, Palo Alto Caltrain, Dublin/Pleasanton BART, and Concord BART, adding to the transfer improvements in January at El Cerrito del Norte and San Rafael Transit Center.
Budget agreement saves transit funding, secures $750M in new short-term funding
Today, Governor Newsom and the state legislature announced a budget agreement to save public transit – at least in the short-term. Public pressure from you, tens of thousands of Californians, and the Move California coalition with 120+ partner organizations, helped motivate the state legislature to reject Governor Newsom's initial budget proposal and then to get the Governor to sign the deal. This victory wouldn’t have been possible without the work you and everyone else put in.
