The board at California’s San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) adopted a local investment plan framework to guide how it would invest potential local funding generated by the Connect Bay Area sales tax ballot measure if voters approve it this November. 

An independent group of citizens submitted the Connect Bay Area measure for the November 2026 ballot. If the measure qualifies and voters approve it, SamTrans would administer San Mateo County’s local transit funding under the board-adopted local framework.

Community Feedback

The local framework reflects several months of community outreach and stakeholder engagement focused on what San Mateo County residents want from future public transit investments. SamTrans held more than 30 presentations and meetings with cities and community groups and received 1,800 survey responses, along with hundreds of comments, that helped shape the plan.

The community feedback showed clear support for protecting current transit service, enhancing reliability and efficiency, expanding access for communities with limited service, and improving aging transit infrastructure. The board-adopted framework reflects those priorities.

“Residents told us they want SamTrans to protect the service people rely on today while planning responsibly for the future,” said SamTrans Board of Directors Chair Marie Chuang. “This framework is rooted in community input and gives us a clear way to invest potential local funds in a fiscally responsible way that is also responsive to community needs.” 

The Connect Bay Area Measure

If approved by voters, the potential 14-year, five-county Connect Bay Area sales tax measure would provide about $50 million annually in locally controlled funding for public transit in San Mateo County, for an estimated total of $700 million over the measure's life. Those funds would remain in San Mateo County for public transit.

The board-adopted Local Investment Plan framework organizes that potential funding into four categories over the life of the measure: 

• 45% to prevent cuts to existing public transit services.
• 30% to improve the rider experience and promote traffic reduction through reliable, efficient service, better bus stops, and last-mile service solutions.
• 20% to expand affordable transit access for underserved communities, including the coast and vulnerable populations.
• 5% to repair and maintain aging transit infrastructure, including bus stops and potholes on bus routes.

Protecting SamTrans service remains the board’s highest funding priority. Under the framework, SamTrans would use potential funding to help preserve and sustain existing public transit. SamTrans's post-COVID ridership recovery is robust, averaging nearly 100% of pre-pandemic levels, according to agency officials. 

The plan also creates a path for improvements that residents said matter most to them, including faster and more reliable bus service, improved neighborhood coverage and east-west connections, cleaner and safer bus stops, continued support for free and reduced-fare programs, and better access for underserved communities, including coastal areas.

Potential projects identified through the planning process include bus stop improvements, real-time transit information at bus stops, transit signal priority, route improvements, paratransit investments, support for fare programs, first- and last-mile solutions for accessing public transit, and repairs to aging transit assets.

The framework also commits SamTrans to strong financial transparency and accountability measures. SamTrans will prioritize cost containment, accountability, and operational efficiency; provide regular board updates on Connect Bay Area spending; plan for long-range deficit recovery; evaluate new services based on performance; and make early investments in near-term, visible projects that can deliver results.

What’s Next?

SamTrans will calibrate the funding framework percentages about every three years based on current needs, conditions, and service performance.

The district will also continue pursuing grants and partnerships to help stretch local funds and deliver larger projects.