If you want good public transportation to continue to be available in Rockridge, it’s critical to vote YES on Measure RTM on the November ballot. RTM stands for the Regional Transit Measure and refers to SB63, also called the Connect Bay Area Act. It asks voters to approve an additional sales tax of half a percent for Alameda County to make sure BART, AC Transit, and other transit agencies in five Bay Area counties continue to have the funding they need.
For the sales tax increase to go into effect in 2027, Measure RTM needs to get at least 51% of the aggregate votes in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties. We must do this… please urge your friends and families to vote YES (while you’re also suggesting they fill out their ballots early, and return them to drop boxes).
In the years between 2020 and 2026, our transit agencies relied on one-time federal, state, and local assistance to fill the gaps caused by decreased ridership stemming from the pandemic. But all of that funding ended last year, and it must be filled if we want convenient bus and BART service to continue.
While Bay Area traffic is at 95% of its pre-pandemic level, BART ridership, despite rising every year since 2021, is only at half of what it was before. This is due to many reasons, including more people working remotely, and some avoiding public transportation altogether.
Before the pandemic, 70% of BART funding came from passenger fares and parking fees; today it is only slightly more than 30%. If Measure RTM fails to pass, it’s likely that we’ll see greatly reduced bus and BART services, including possible closure of up to 15 BART stations and even entire lines. Moreover, AC Transit cuts will disproportionately affect those who depend on the bus for reliable and affordable transportation to work.
The Rockridge Community Planning Council held a Town Hall at the Rockridge Library on September 10 where they spoke on, and endorsed, the measure. Should the measure fail to pass, the financial deficits for each transit department‐—Muni, BART, CalTrain and AC Transit—would be significant, as shown in the presentation slide below.
Alameda County Organizer for Connect Bay Area Alyssa Sanchez (shown in photo above) had this to say:
“We can barely tolerate our current levels of traffic in the Bay Area today, but if RTM fails and our transit agencies must dramatically cut service, traffic will get so much worse. In addition, public transportation is essential for giving people an affordable way to get around safely and efficiently. Let’s keep it that way.”
