Public Transit

Act now to preserve Bay Area public transit and build an ecosocialist future!

San Mateo County: Transit 4 All

:rotating_light: Push SamTrans to Support a Progressive Regional Funding Measure

:warning: BART & Caltrain are in trouble!

Did you know BART, Caltrain, and SF Muni are facing “fiscal cliffs” that will force massive service cuts if they don’t find new funding in the next 18 months? The proposed service cuts would mean disaster for all transit riders:

  • BART: No more night or weekend service!
  • Caltrain: Only one local train per hour!
  • Muni: Goodbye to cable cars!
  • SamTrans: No more free transfers—cutting off San Mateo County from the rest of the Bay Area!

:warning: SamTrans can help save regional transit...

Our county’s transit agency, SamTrans, has the option to participate in a proposed regional funding ballot measure (SB 63, Senators Weiner & Arreguín) that would keep transit agencies operational in all Bay Area counties if voters pass it in 2026.

But some members of the SamTrans Board of Directors (BOD) are hesitant to join the measure—–and now they might even drop existing funding for inter-agency coordination! We need huge public pushback to encourage these folks—–many of whom don’t use mass transit themselves—–to support a well-funded, interconnected transit system around the Bay.

:warning: We must push the Board of Directors to act!

Making public comments—in person, via Zoom, or by email—at SamTrans BOD meetings is the best way to guarantee airtime for socialist perspectives and directly influence San Mateo County’s transit decision makers.

We have to act fast to prevent the SamTrans BOD from sleepwalking us into the worst-case scenario.

:rotating_light: Demand Action at the SamTrans BOD Meeting (Wednesday, May 7, 2pm)

Practice Your Talking Points

  • Introduce yourself (name, city, how you use SamTrans).
  • Tell the Board how the proposed service cuts would impact you
  • Ask them to join the regional funding measure (SB 63)
  • Ask them to preserve funding for inter-agency coordination across the Bay
  • Ask them to pursue progressive funding solutions so corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share
  • Ask them to do new polling for progressive taxation, which working class voters will want to support

How to Make a Public Comment

:microphone: In person (most effective!)

  • Location: Bacciocco Auditorium (2nd Floor), 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos
  • Arrive at 1:50pm (10 minutes early) to fill out a comment card; give the card to the secretary.
  • Wait till the Board opens agenda item #5 (general public comment).
  • The secretary will call you to the podium.
  • You have 3 minutes to speak.

:telephone_receiver: Virtual

  • Location: Join the Zoom call at 2pm
  • Wait till the Board opens agenda item #5 (general public comment).
  • Raise your virtual hand immediately. Follow the #transit channel on the PDSA Discord to be notified when public comment is open!
  • The secretary will call your name and unmute you.
  • You have 2 minutes to speak.

:computer: Email

  • Submit public comment to the SamTrans BOD before the start of the meeting at publiccomment@samtrans.com!

Thanks for your help, comrades! A better world is possible—if we fight for it.

More Ways to Fight for Public Transit

Quick Action Items!