GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND STATE LEADERS CHAMPION EAST BAY RIDERS WITH SB 63 APPROVAL

GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND STATE LEADERS CHAMPION EAST BAY RIDERS WITH SB 63 APPROVAL

SB 63 helps AC Transit address short-term fiscal challenges and preserve long-term bus service

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) and its Board of Directors extend sincere gratitude to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing Senate Bill (SB) 63 into law.

Guiding this regional tax measure through the legislative process was made possible through the tenacity and vision of State Senator Scott Wiener (11th Senate District) and State Senator Jesse Arreguín (7th Senate District). AC Transit appreciates our lawmakers' leadership and advocacy for public transit across the Bay Area.

SB 63 proposes a regional sales tax measure that could offer a long-term, sustainable funding source. By establishing a 14-year regional transit funding mechanism, AC Transit secures the resources needed to address immediate fiscal challenges and sustain our existing service delivery. It would also support our transit district's ongoing efforts to cut costs, hire strategically, and boost operational efficiency through an array of innovations.

Without the sustainable funding envisioned by SB 63, AC Transit faces service reductions of up to 37 percent, which would mean operating at less than half of our pre-pandemic levels. As a result, AC Transit and its policymaking Board remain collectively focused on preserving our 65-year-old bus network, which is a vital lifeline for more than 3 million East Bay riders every month who rely on our service for work, education, and daily life.

Governor Newsom's approval of SB 63 is a pivotal step that now advances the measure toward qualification for the November 2026 ballot.

AC Transit is proud to stand alongside our regional transit partners and our elected leaders in pursuing a shared vision of fiscally sustainable transit that is equitable and reliable transit for all.