(The Center Square) – San Francisco Bay Area voters on Nov. 3 will decide on Measure RTM, a new sales tax aimed to keep BART and other public transit systems afloat after years of what’s described as inadequate post-pandemic financing.
Proponents said the 0.5% to 1% sales tax increase is a small price to pay for Bay Area Rapid Transit, better known as BART, and other regional transit systems as they recover from the post-pandemic ridership slump. Opponents argued the estimated annual, nearly $1 billion tax over 14 years is an avoidable regressive tax that comes as people are struggling with the cost of living…