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SFCTA backs concept support for regional revenue and CEQA changes, watches $20B state bond
Summary
SFCTA staff asked the board to take positions on three state bills: support in concept for SB 63 (regional revenue measure authorization), support for SB 71 (extend and expand a CEQA pilot used for transit projects), and support for AB 891 (quick-build pilot program); the board added AB 939 (a proposed $20 billion transportation bond) to its watch list.
On March 11 the San Francisco County Transportation Authority received a state and federal legislation update from Amber Crabb, senior public policy manager, and staff requested positions on three state bills and reported one bill added to a watch list.
Crabb asked the board to take a "support in concept" position on Senate Bill 63, described as a measure to authorize the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to place a regional revenue measure on the ballot no earlier than November 2026. She also described Senate Bill 71, which would delete a 2030 expiration of a pilot that has exempted many small transit, walking and biking projects from CEQA review and would expand eligible project types to include bus shelters, lighting and route modifications; the Authority's city-level legislation committee and MTC have already taken support positions and staff recommended following suit.
Staff recommended support for Assembly Bill 891, which would create a quick-build project pilot in the state's highway maintenance account and require Caltrans to commit funding to at least six projects by 2028. Separately, staff added Assembly Bill 939 to the watch list — the bill contains intent language to place a proposed $20 billion transportation bond on the November 2026 ballot; staff said they need to better understand the bond's funding targets and viability before recommending a position.
Crabb also briefed the board on cap-and-trade reauthorization and funding priorities: the program currently raises $4–5 billion a year and is expected to expire in 2030; roughly 60% of proceeds fund transportation and affordable housing projects and staff said an extension is a top advocacy priority. On federal issues, staff said formula funding appears to continue while discretionary grants remain in flux pending executive orders and legal developments; federal reauthorization of the surface transportation bill remains a 2026 deadline to watch.
Commissioners had no substantive questions in the transcript excerpt and public comment on the item was absent.
