The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Board of Directors voted 8–1 at its August meeting to join the Bay Area’s proposed 14-year regional transportation tax measure, known as Senate Bill 63 (SB 63), at a half-cent sales tax rate with strong oversight and accountability measures.
For San Mateo County, SB 63’s success at the ballot box will:
- Keep Caltrain running: The measure would fully fund the county’s share of Caltrain’s operating costs and help preserve electrified service every 30 minutes.
- Support public transit in San Mateo County: more than $45 million annually in new, flexible funding for SamTrans to invest in local public transportation needs.
- Support key regional connections: BART and Muni service — used by more than 5 million riders in San Mateo County annually — will have new, dedicated funding.
- Hold agencies accountable: although bill amendments are still underway, proposed oversight and accountability measures will ensure San Mateo County has a seat at the table, receives its fair share of service and benefits, and will require regional transit agencies to develop long-term sustainable budgets.
The decision was informed by community polling and thorough stakeholder engagement which included feedback from residents, city leaders, transportation experts, business groups, organized labor, and local and regional elected officials. The board received letters in support of opting in from business, labor and community groups, plus opt-in recommendations from SMCTA and C/CAG Boards with strong accountability measures. Polling indicated that 57% of San Mateo County voters support joining the measure.
The SamTrans Board’s priorities have consistently included:
- Fully funding Caltrain’s operational deficit
- Maximizing flexible, locally controlled “return-to-source” public transit funding for San Mateo County
- Protecting Measure A investments — the countywide transportation sales tax measure that expires in 2033
- Oversight and accountability for taxpayer funds
The Board’s recent vote to join the measure ensures a continued commitment to those priorities.
Without a new source of funding for Caltrain, the railroad risks major service cuts. Although Measure A could be used for short-term bridge funding, voters would need to amend the existing expenditure plan to cover San Mateo County’s share of Caltrain’s $75 million annual deficit. This means significantly less funding would be available for local streets and roads, pothole repairs, bike paths, sidewalks, highway interchange safety projects, shuttles and other improvements.
The regional measure would also provide funding to help protect BART and Muni service in San Mateo County at a level proportional with local ridership and post-pandemic fare losses. The board closely reviewed San Mateo County ridership data for BART and Muni, concluding that both services are essential for thousands of San Mateo County residents who depend on BART and Muni for travelling to work, school, medical appointments, and visiting loved ones. Based on that analysis, the board recommended funding levels proportional to the benefit these services provide to the county.
The bill will continue to be refined, amended, and finalized in Sacramento before the Sept. 12 deadline to pass the legislature, and SamTrans will continue to advocate for the strongest possible levels of accountability.
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The San Mateo County Transit District operates 74 routes and two on-demand service areas. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the district also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. SamTrans has provided bus service to San Mateo County customers since 1976. SamTrans was named the 2024 Outstanding Public Transportation System by the American Public Transportation Association, recognizing the agency’s excellence in safety, service, operations and innovation.
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