The Regional Transit Measure: One Way We Create the Conditions for Opportunity

Every day, people across the Bay Area set out to build a better future.

A student heads to class, hoping to earn a degree. A parent catches an early train to work to provide for their family. An older adult travels to a medical appointment. Someone interviews for a new job or meets a financial coach for the first time.

Their aspirations are different, but they all depend on one thing: the ability to access the opportunities that can change their lives.

At United Way Bay Area, part of what we do is remove barriers between people and the futures they’re working toward. That means investing in programs that help people thrive and supporting the public systems that make opportunity possible.

That’s why, after careful consideration, we chose to support the Regional Transit Measure.

We recognize that this measure involves difficult trade-offs. The additional cost of this sales tax will disproportionately affect lower-income households. We continue to believe the Bay Area needs more equitable and sustainable ways to fund the infrastructure our communities rely on, without placing a greater burden on struggling families.

At the same time, we believe the cost of continued transit decline would fall even more heavily on those communities.

When service is reduced or unavailable, the effects extend far beyond a delayed train or a canceled route. A missed connection can mean a missed shift. Lost wages can make it harder to afford housing, childcare, or groceries. Opportunities that were once within reach move farther away. Those added barriers hit hardest for people already facing the steepest climb.

We believe this measure offers the strongest path available today to preserve those connections while longer-term solutions are pursued. We also know that asking taxpayers to contribute more requires strong accountability. That’s why we were encouraged to see independent financial reviews, stronger regional coordination among transit agencies, and citizen oversight built into the measure to help ensure that public dollars are spent responsibly.

Supporting the Regional Transit Measure is only one part of our commitment. Many transit agencies already offer discounted fares for eligible riders, and through 211, Bay Area residents can access information about these programs and thousands of other community resources that may help offset increased taxes.

We’ll continue helping people access the support available today while advocating for a more equitable future.

At United Way Bay Area, we believe lasting change comes from creating the conditions for people to thrive. That means building communities where opportunity is within reach, everyone feels they belong, and the systems people rely on are both sustainable and strong enough to support them.

Protecting the connections that help people reach work, school, healthcare, and one another is an important step toward building a Bay Area where more people have the chance not only to get by but also to move forward.