Bay Area Transit Rescue Pitched Via New Taxes in California Bill

Transit operators in San Francisco’s Bay Area are facing massive budget shortfalls as ridership lingers well below its prepandemic levels. Two California senators will unveil a bill Monday aimed at plugging those gaps, as well as bringing some order to the 27 different agencies operating across the region.

The proposal seeks at least $750 million to be doled out to public transport systems that serve the region’s nearly eight million residents. The legislation would dedicate a consistent stream of revenue by asking voters to approve a new tax on sales, regional payrolls or properties. A charge on vehicle registrations would ...