Overview

• SamTrans’s board voted on August 7 to join SB 63, endorsing a half-cent sales tax that aims to prevent service cuts across five Bay Area counties.
• VTA’s board followed suit late on August 7, bringing Santa Clara County into the measure alongside San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo.
• The tax is expected to generate about $135 million annually in San Mateo County—$32.5 million of which would support Caltrain’s operations.
• Santa Clara County’s participation promises more than $264 million a year for the VTA to cover its deficit, fulfill Caltrain obligations and advance its Visionary Network plan.
• SB 63 must now clear the state Assembly and receive Gov. Newsom’s signature before going before voters, requiring either a two-thirds legislative referral or a simple-majority citizen initiative.