A SPUR report says delays at major Bay Area highway bottlenecks could double if voters reject two transit-funding measures in November and BART, Caltrain, Muni and AC Transit cut service. It estimates I-680 drivers could face 15–20 extra minutes.
The report estimates that transit cuts could add 498 million vehicle miles and 184,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year. An average transit rider who switches to driving could spend an estimated $3,280 more annually, while nearly 430,000 people near BART or Caltrain stations could lose access to their nearest stations. SPUR says low-income communities that rely heavily on transit would be disproportionately affected.
The Regional Transit Measure would create a five-county tax expected to generate close to $1 billion annually for 14 years. Proposition H would create a property tax raising $177 million a year for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for 15 years; together, the measures would address much of the agencies’ deficits. Mayor Daniel Lurie backed both. Gregg Dieguez, president of a group opposing the measures, said the report should have examined reallocating funds and other lower-cost alternatives.
