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SAM Trans outlines local plan and outreach if SB63 reaches November ballot
Summary
Charles Chang of SAM Trans told the Daily City Council that SB63 (Connect Bay Area) is being circulated for signatures and, if on the ballot, could raise nearly $1 billion regionally; SAM Trans projects about $50 million annually for Sanonteo County and is conducting a short public survey to shape a local investment plan the SAM Trans board aims to adopt in June.
Charles Chang, government and community affairs officer with the Sanonteo County Transit District, told the Daily City Council on March 23 that a citizen initiative tied to last year’s SB63 (the Connect Bay Area Act) is gathering signatures and could appear on the November ballot. Chang said the measure, as described to cities, would ask Bay Area voters to approve a half‑cent sales tax in five counties for 14 years (with a 1‑cent rate in San Francisco) and estimated nearly $1 billion in total revenue if it passes.
Chang said SAM Trans estimates the county share at roughly $50 million annually for 14 years and that about 63% of the broader region’s proceeds would be dedicated to preventing major service cuts on agencies such as Caltrain and BART. He emphasized that locally administered funds would support county transit projects and asked the council to help publicize a 10‑week public engagement process and a multilingual survey (English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog) that closes April 30.
Why it matters: SAM Trans warned of long‑term operating deficits across regional operators and said some agencies project cuts, station closures and other cost‑saving steps without new revenue. Chang said the local investment plan will guide how Sanonteo County’s allocation would be prioritized if the ballot measure qualifies and passes.
Council members asked for specifics about likely service reductions if the measure failed. Chang said member agencies are developing service‑specific contingency plans (routes and staffing cuts, station closures). Several council members and the vice mayor urged robust multilingual outreach and said the city will help distribute the survey link to residents.
What’s next: SAM Trans will discuss the local plan at its May 6 board meeting and hopes to adopt the local investment plan in June, Chang said. Residents can find the survey via the SAM Trans local funding plan link provided at the presentation.
