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San Marcos officials flag regional transit funding risks as SANDAG tax proposals and NCTD shortfalls surface
Summary
Council members reported SANDAG discussion of multiple new countywide taxes and raised concerns about potential loss of SANDAG funding for the NCTD Plus pilot; NCTD reported a large capital need to replace Sprinter trains and canceled two bus routes due to low ridership.
Council members at the Feb. 25 meeting reported a series of regional transit funding concerns, including SANDAG discussions of multiple proposed taxes and a sudden note that SANDAG may not continue funding for the NCTD Plus micro-transit pilot.
Deputy Mayor Sunella and other council members said SANDAG planners discussed two countywide tax measures (target years referenced as 2032 and 2036), an additional MTS regional tax and the renewal of the existing TransNet tax. "The new plan will require not one, not two, but three full taxes, brand new ones that you will all get to vote on, and the extension of another tax," Mayor Rebecca Jones said during reports.
Council members also described unexpected news from North County Transit District (NCTD). Council member Nunez said it "sounds like SANDAG has decided not to continue to fund NCTD plus," a pilot rolled out in San Marcos roughly a year earlier. Council members said they were pursuing grant or alternate funding to sustain the pilot.
NCTD reports presented to council detailed several service and capital issues: two bus routes will be canceled (reported as routes "334" and "444"), and of the 12 Sprinter vehicles purchased 15 years ago, only five remain operational. NCTD estimated roughly $284,000,000 would be required to replace the Sprinter fleet and about $20,000,000 to upgrade stations to accommodate new trains. Councilors described the $284 million figure as an unfunded need with no identified sources at the time of the meeting.
Why it matters: Changes to regional funding and to SANDAG support could end pilots that the city considers successful and place pressure on local and regional agencies to find replacement funding. The reported Sprinter shortfall raises a potential long-term risk to rail service if replacement money is not secured.
No formal action was taken by the San Marcos City Council on these regional funding matters at the Feb. 25 meeting; council members said they would continue to pursue information, possible grants and coordination with SANDAG and NCTD.
