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Board reviews VTA local investment plan and debates keeping employee Smart Pass program
Summary
VTA staff briefed the board on a proposed five‑county half‑cent transit measure; supervisors urged prioritizing service and signal priority. Separately the board debated whether to continue a county employee Smart Pass transit subsidy and approved a substitute motion preserving passes for IHSS and court employees while directing staff to seek revised terms from VTA and explore other targeted pre‑tax subsidy options.
VTA staff told the Board the proposed regional measure would raise a half‑cent sales tax across five counties for transit operating and capital needs including corridor and station upgrades, zero‑emission vehicles and service expansion. The county’s portion of projected FY2025 revenue was presented and VTA staff emphasized KPIs tied to ridership, productivity and customer experience.
Public commenters urged service expansion and improved paratransit reliability. “Transit service is not something that will always have money available; this is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity,” said a Citizens Advisory Committee member.
Later in the agenda the Board debated whether to continue the county’s employee Smart Pass transit subsidy. Supervisor Abe‑Koga asked to preserve the program for an additional year to allow more employees to enroll; administration staff said the program costs the county about $700,000 per year and utilization remains low compared with pre‑pandemic levels. County staff recommended discontinuing the universal subsidy while retaining targeted support for IHSS and Superior Court employees, noting a more targeted pre‑tax or subsidy model could better aid transit‑dependent workers.
After extended discussion the board approved a substitute motion that preserves passes for IHSS and court employees, asks the county executive to approach VTA about revising the cost structure for the Smart Pass program, and to develop and return with options for targeted pre‑tax subsidies or matching funds so employees who need inter‑jurisdictional passes can be served.
