7/14/25: Save free transfers! Plus, lessons from East Asian public transit webinar and less than 1 month for the Peninsula and South Bay to join the regional transit measure
San Mateo County is inching closer to joining the regional transit funding measure and we've launched a new page with everything you need to know about the effort to save Bay Area transit. This includes two new actions to save free transfers and other seamless transit investments and a Rally for Transit in Santa Clara County.
This Wednesday, also join us for a webinar learning from transit systems in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Read on to learn more.
Free transfers and other seamless transit investments are at risk! Take action now.
Decision makers are negotiating how much funding in the regional transit funding measure should go towards free transfers and other rider-focused "transit transformation” improvements that make transit faster, more reliable, affordable, convenient, and accessible. These investments increase ridership and are overwhelmingly popular with voters, helping to get the funding measure passed! But last week, the Assembly Transportation Committee voted to reduce the amount of money for these valuable and popular programs! And we hear there’s pressure for even more reductions!
Representatives on your local County Transportation Authorities (the agencies that manage county transportation taxes) have become the critical voices in this conversation. Urge them to protect critical funding for free transfers and more rider-focused improvements.
Additionally, sign up for public comment at upcoming board meetings.
Webinar: What can California learn from transit in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan | July 16th, 5:00pm - 6:00pm (PDT)
California has no shortage of ambitious goals for transforming transit, but progress has been achingly slow. Large capital projects often take decades to build, and service among the state’s over 300 operators is poorly connected – the transit experience in California falls far short of world-class.
Join this webinar as we take a closer look at the lessons California and the United States can learn from countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
Panelists include Dr. Jason Chang (National Taiwan University), Seung Lee (author of the S(ubstack)-Bahn) and Ian Griffiths (CPCS).
San Mateo County leaders showing more support for a transit regional measure after multiple days of action
Thanks to the actions from transit supporters like yourself who turned out in large crowds and made many supportive public comments, and positive results from opinion polling, the SamTrans board shifted closer to support for joining. The SamTrans board has the final say on whether or not the county joins the regional measure for transit funding. There are TWO FINAL meetings left before they make a decision.
Please sign up to voice your support for San Mateo County joining the regional measure for transit funding at the upcoming meetings. On July 30th, the San Mateo City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) will make recommendations about whether San Mateo County should join the regional measure, and on and August 6th the SamTrans board will make their deciding vote.
It is critical to the success of the measure that San Mateo County (and Santa Clara) 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 strengthening transit coordination efforts.
Rally for Transit in Santa Clara County (San Jose) | Tuesday, July 29th beginning at 6:00pm
Join community members and advocates for a Rally for Transit in Santa Clara County to pressure local leaders to “opt-in” to the 2026 regional transportation funding measure – preventing dire cuts and improving service on Caltrain, VTA, BART, and other transit agencies.
This is an important moment because if the South Bay 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.
Saving Bay Area Transit | Everything You Need to Know About the Regional Transit Funding Measure
While we've written extensively about the regional transit funding measure, many people asked us to create a central information hub with the actions you can take, the latest information, and a FAQ for the questions you may still have about the effort. That's why we've launched the new "Regional Measure” page on our website! Check it out now and give us your feedback by replying to this email.
Recent from our Blog
Regional measure bill passes Assembly Committee with less funds for seamless transit
The State Assembly Transportation Committee voted to approve SB 63, the authorizing legislation for a regional transit funding measure, with Bay Area members speaking up about the importance of funding transit. But the Committee approved an amendment reducing funds for Seamless transit, following a recommendation made by MTC in late June. The Assembly Transportation Committee wants a final review when the number of counties participating has been decided and an expenditure plan is available.
A series of events last week urged San Mateo County leaders to join a regional funding measure and save public transit from dire service cuts. New poll results show the majority of Peninsula voters support a regional measure. Now, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties have until August 11th to “opt-in” in order to be included.
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.