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Proposed Transportation Authority restructuring draws pushback as potential 'power grab'
Summary
A proposed ordinance to change the composition and oversight of the San Francisco Transportation Authority drew critique at a Rules Committee hearing, with speakers warning the measure risks conflating planning and operations and jeopardizing state and federal partnerships.
A proposal to restructure the San Francisco Transportation Authority and change its staffing and oversight drew critical comments from current and former transportation officials at the Rules Committee.
The ordinance, as read, would amend the Business and Tax Regulations Code to change the Authority’s composition to include five elected members (the mayor and an elected designee, the president of the board and designee, and the treasurer), seek staff function realignment to city agencies where practicable, require expert financial review of Authority budgets, and apply city ethics and public-records laws.
Speakers at the hearing cautioned that restructuring could blur the lines between planning/programming and operations, replicate turf battles experienced in other cities, and complicate relationships with state and federal funding partners. A former transportation official recounted similar changes in Southern California and said the proposed reconfiguration risked harming delivery on major projects including the Central Subway and Transbay efforts.
No public commenters appeared specifically in favor during the hearing and the committee filed the item after discussion; the chair indicated hope the measure might be removed from the ballot.
