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Seattle Prop. 1 results: Transit sales tax leading in early vote
On Tuesday, voters across five Bay Area counties passed the Regional Transit Measure with 61% support, a sales tax increase designed to prevent drastic service cuts at BART, Caltrain, and other transit systems.
Pandemic-Era remote work models drastically reduced ridership, leaving the Bay Area's four largest transit systems collectively facing an $800 million annual deficit next year without new revenue.
The measure raises $980 million annually through a 0.5% sales tax in four counties and 1% in San Francisco, averting the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's "Alternative Service Plan" that would close 15 stations.
San Francisco voters separately approved Proposition H, a parcel tax raising $150 million annually to fund Muni through 2042, providing additional support for the city's bus and train system.
While advocates celebrate averting "catastrophic" cuts, the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit argued agencies should prioritize budget reforms over new taxes, citing rising costs despite lower ridership.