Transit Poll Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

I doubt we will see a more honest news headline this year than the Merc's take on the latest poll about transit issues in the Bay Area:

     Bay Area voters in support of better transit, if rich people and companies pay

That's the OPM Syndrome that affects a lot of people (the majority?) in California.  57% of 600 people polled support taxing someone else to pay for "affordable and coordinated transit".  I'm surprised it's not eight out of ten.  The poll is gauging support for yet another Sen. Scott Wiener reach into other people's pockets (SB 925).  He wants to better connect the Bay Area's 27 transit agencies.  The problem here should be obvious, but not to "Throw more money at it" Wiener.  Here's the worst part:

Wiener's bill contains no details on how money would be raised, what improvements it would pay for, how a streamlined transit system would be managed, or how spending would be overseen.

Get ready to fill in the "No" box on your ballot.  Meanwhile the giant sucking sound from the Central Valley is unabated.  And give that headline writer a raise.

Comments

[Phinancier]

Too bad the Daily Journal article did not include the weak points in the law that the Mercury News reported nailed. Then today's San Fran Chronicle article talked about Weiner writing the bill to force a mode shift on the public. I know what he can do with his mode shift.

[Joe]

The DJ article yesterday had a couple of tidbit$:

Caltrain’s leadership is largely eliminating service cuts as a potential solution to its ballooning deficit, but it is still contemplating other methods such as increasing fares or reducing Clipper card discounts.

Starting in fiscal year 2027 — which begins in July 2026 — the agency is projecting a $67 million deficit, slightly higher than originally predicted. By fiscal year 2034, the shortfall is expected to reach $82 million.

During a previous board meeting, staff had presented numerous suggestions, which included possible service cuts, though most staff and board members agreed that option would put the agency in a worse position long term.

However, other strategies are still on the table. Adrian Brandt, chair of the Caltrain Citizens Advisory Committee, said there should be stronger citation enforcement for those who don’t pay the fares. He referenced a Caltrain estimated figure of about 2,800 potential citations that could have been issued — but weren’t — last month, which “highlights a fare collection problem,” he said.
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2,800 potential citations per month x 12= 33,600 per year.