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SamTrans seeks Millbrae input on Connect Bay Area measure and $50M yearly local return
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Summary
Emily Beach of SamTrans presented the Connect Bay Area measure concept and asked the Millbrae City Council and residents to help prioritize an estimated $50 million per year in local funds for San Mateo County if the ballot measure qualifies; public commenters offered both support and skepticism.
Emily Beach, chief communications officer for the San Mateo County Transit District, told the Millbrae City Council on April 14 that the Connect Bay Area measure (enabled by state legislation SB 63) would be a limited‑term, half‑cent sales tax across five Bay Area counties to address operating deficits of major transit operators.
Beach described a local "return to source" that could bring roughly $50 million a year back to San Mateo County for public transportation operations and capital projects, with limited ability to fund pavement repairs on roads served by fixed‑route bus service. She said the measure is currently in a private signature‑gathering phase and would need 50% plus one vote to pass if it reaches the November ballot.
"Our goal is to have a plan that the board adopts for how this funding would be spent no later than June," Beach said, and she urged councils and residents to take a public survey (available in multiple languages) that closes April 30 so SamTrans can gather local priorities.
Council members asked about oversight, timelines and how local priorities would be reflected. Beach said the legislation includes oversight provisions and that SamTrans would manage the county’s $50 million slice through a transparent public process, with the board seeking initial community input on May 6 and adopting a final local investment plan by early June.
During public comment, speakers were divided. Grace Sherab criticized transit agencies’ cost structures and warned that funding is not guaranteed; she urged caution before endorsing or presuming revenue. Julia Lee urged city leadership to endorse the measure, calling Millbrae a key transit hub and encouraging residents to shape how funds are spent.
SamTrans staff said outreach materials and toolkits are available for cities to share and that the district is conducting an accelerated 10‑week outreach program to inform a June adoption of a local plan if the measure qualifies for the ballot.
