Proposition RTM

Regional Transit Measure

Measure RTM would enact a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties) and 1% (San Francisco) sales tax for 14 years to prevent major service cuts to BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, other transit agencies, support transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, reliability, and repair targeted roads/potholes.

This measure requires approval by a majority of voters voting on the measure to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Measure RTM would raise approximately $980 million per year. After payment of defined costs, including election costs and administrative expenses, the District must transfer all remaining revenues to MTC and county transportation agencies for distribution and expenditure according to percentages set forth in the measure, which vary by county and recipient.

See Endorsements for Proposition RTM

Pro:

Supporters argue that San Francisco depends on public transit to keep the city livable, power our economy, and connect neighborhoods. Strong transit supports local businesses, reduces congestion, improves air quality, and ensures everyone can get where they need to go affordably - families, seniors, people with disabilities, students, and workers. Today, Bay Area transit faces a turning point. Without new funding from the Regional Transit Measure, we will experience significant and deep cuts to Muni, BART, and Caltrain - setting us back decades.

They argue that without this measure, Muni could cut service by at least 30%, cancel at least 20 bus routes, end regular evening service, eliminate cable car service, and reduce fare discounts for vulnerable populations. BART could close 15 stations, including Colma, San Bruno, and South San Francisco, and reduce service by 70%. Caltrain could reduce service to one train per hour, and stop running entirely on weekends.

www.ConnectBayArea.org (Campaign Website)

A YES vote on this measure means: you support imposing the tax described above for 14 years.

Con:

Opponents argue that the Regional Transit Measure (RTM) Tax makes life in San Francisco less affordable. San Francisco already is an expensive place to live. Working class families are barely surviving. The RTM Tax would make it worse. They say that San Francisco's sales tax is too high already and this is the largest sales tax increase in San Francisco's history. They argue that the new RTM Tax is too big ($14,000,000,000.00) and lasts too long (14 years) and that you can't trust BART, Muni, and Caltrain with more of your tax money.

www.NoNewTransitTax.com (Campaign Website)

A NO vote on this measure means: you are against imposing the tax.

Background

The Public Transit Revenue Measure District was created by the Legislature through Senate Bill 63 ("SB 63") in 2025, to preserve and improve public transit service in the San Francisco Bay Area. The District comprises the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, and the City and County of San Francisco, and is governed by the same board that governs the Metropolitan Transportation Commission ("МТС"). SB 63 authorizes District voters to approve a retail transactions and use tax (commonly referred to as a sales tax) for specified purposes.

Propsal

If approved, Measure RTM would impose a tax of 0.5% in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara and 1.0% in the City and County of San Francisco. The tax would be imposed and collected in largely the same manner as a state-imposed sales tax. The tax would be in effect for 14 years and would not count toward the statutory limit on combined local sales tax rates.

It is estimated that the tax would raise approximately $980 million per year. After payment of defined costs, including election costs and administrative expenses, the District must transfer all remaining revenues to MTC and county transportation agencies for distribution and expenditure according to percentages set forth in the measure, which vary by county and recipient. Recipients include BART, Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Francisco Bay Ferry, Golden Gate Transit, smaller bus operators in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, and county transportation agencies. Revenues would also support free and reduced-cost transit transfers, expansion of the Clipper START reduced fare program, accessibility programs, mapping and wayfinding and transit priority projects and programs, and repavement projects for roads served by fixed-route transit.

While the tax would be imposed throughout the District, the allocation of revenue generated in each county, and the authorized uses of those funds, would vary. For example, 29.14% of all revenues generated in San Francisco County would be allocated to BART for transit operations expenses. By contrast, 62.87% of all revenues generated in San Francisco County would be allocated to the Muni for public transit expenses.

Tax revenues would be subject to accountability requirements in SB 63, which requires BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain to undergo financial efficiency reviews and adopt implementation plans and authorizes MTC to withhold funds from any of those operators for noncompliance. The measure would also require an independent oversight committee to review whether all revenues are distributed as required.

Source: Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative

City and County of San Francisco Office of Elections

Pro:

Con:

Background

Propsal

2026 Propositions

2026 Local Ballot Measures

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