California doesn’t support public transit systems at nearly the level other states do. That needs to change.

California doesn’t support public transit at nearly the level other states do. That needs to change.

California funds our major public transportation systems at dramatically lower levels than New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts do.

Our Bay Area transit systems, in particular, are way too reliant on fare revenue. That’s always been a source of financial instability — not to mention putting pressure on these systems to keep raising fares — and it’s only gotten worse since the pandemic.

These systems are crucial for our economy, mobility, and of course for our decarbonization efforts. The state needs to provide consistent, ongoing support. We also need to give transit agencies more land use tools to generate revenue while also creating more transit-oriented development.

Transit systems in other countries receive far more support and have more tools to be financially sustainable and keep fares low. We need to do that in California.

We’re continuing to work in the Legislature to move California in this direction.