Transform California

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BART sees big wins in 2025. Crime dropped 41% overall, with violent crime down 31% and property crime down 43%, while ridership rose nearly 10% to 5M more trips.

richmondstandard.com/community/20...

Metropolitan Transportation Commission adopts new policy to help travel times on transit in Bay Area The policy applies to projects along any public roadway with public transit services that operate in shared or semi-dedicated right-of-way that seek over $250,000 of regional ...

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has adopted the Bay Area Transit Priority Policy for Roadways, aiming to improve transit speed, reliability, and travel times across the region.

www.masstransitmag.com/management/n...

Six-hundred million dollar bridge loan for Bay Area transit agencies Governor Gavin Newsom announced that state and local officials have agreed to make a nearly $600 million bridge loan to prop up Bay Area transit agencies until voters decide in November on a sales tax to bolster the system.

Governor Newsom announces a $600M bridge loan to support Bay Area transit, preventing an $800M shortfall and potential service cuts.

Voters will decide in November on a regional sales tax to strengthen BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit.

www.kalw.org/bay-area-new...

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BART riders can now book and pay for Uber rides directly in the BART app, making first- and last-mile trips easier and supporting car-free travel.

richmondstandard.com/community/20...

Sponsored Content: Possibility Lab In this research series, we’ll explore the missing component in the vision of abundance in CA: the people who will make it possible

Building fast doesn’t have to mean leaving people behind. In this series, researchers at the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab explore the trade-offs, partnerships, and policies needed to expand access to essential goods and services for all Californians.

calmatters.org/sponsored/kn...

Achieving ‘Transportation Abundance’ Is All About Density To drive down transportation costs and move the needle on affordability, Americans need to embrace living closer together.

NYC is expensive, but getting around is surprisingly affordable.

Fewer car trips + shorter distances = lower transportation costs.

The takeaway: build more housing, and you don’t just lower rent, you unlock cheaper, better mobility.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

MTC passes funding framework to support more transit-oriented communities! Stay tuned for another big vote in February.

Make a Friend on Transit Day Volunteer Form Help celebrate International Make A Friend Day (February 11th) by activating transit stops throughout San Francisco, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, and Contra Costa County with Transbay Coalition! Here's how it works: On the morning of Feb 11, volunteers will gather at bus stops, BART & Caltrain stations, ferry terminals, and light rail stations to pass out name tags that say "Hi my name is ______, Ask me about ______" and markers to invite riders into the region-wide Make A Friend Day icebreaker. The game is simple -- see a fellow rider with a nametag? Introduce yourself and ask them about what they wrote on their name tag. Who knows what connections and friendships small moments like that across the Bay might help kick off. Everyone is also invited to the end-of-day free festivities at local libraries in each county with activities (and light refreshments) to encourage camaraderie and support for transit. How you can help: Sign up for a shift at a key transit stop to pass out name tags with your fellow volunteers and explain the game to riders. Help activate a transit stop of your choosing Help with the after-parties in the evening About the Host: Since 2020, Transbay Coalition works to create a broad grassroots movement for equitable, sustainable public & active transportation. We collaborate across decentralized, locally-led campaigns united in our shared goals and values. Transbay Coalition is an active member of the Connect Bay Area Campaign.

Special volunteer opportunity in your neighborhood for Make a Friend (On Transit) Day, Feb 11th.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

BART says year-over-year ridership rose 13.5% in December - Local News Matters BART ridership in December rose 13.5% in the latest year versus the previous year, the public transit system said. BART said the gains reflected “the New BART ridership in December rose 13.5% in the latest year versus the previous year, the public transit system said Friday.

BART ridership climbs 13.5% year-over-year in December, boosted by the “New BART experience.” Weekend and airport travel also surged, reflecting a mix of leisure and non-work trips amid high work-from-home rates in the Bay Area.

localnewsmatters.org/2026/01/27/b...

Signature gathering begins in Oakland for multi-billion-dollar transit measure If advocates gather 186,000 signatures across the Bay Area, a half-cent sales tax proposal will appear on the November ballot. Passage would mean an infusion of cash for BART, AC Transit, and other mass transit agencies.

Oakland advocates launched a signature drive for the Connect Bay Area Act to secure $1B/year for regional transit.

The goal: protect BART, AC Transit, Caltrain, Muni, and more from service cuts.

oaklandside.org/2026/01/28/b...

Cargo bike delivery is much faster than polluting vans and trucks with massive benefits Cargo bikes can deliver goods in cities faster than vans, removing tonnes of greenhouse gas and easing congestion, according to a new study

Cargo bikes can deliver faster than vans, cut emissions, and ease city congestion. Even a 10% shift from vans could save 133,000 tonnes of CO2.

momentummag.com/cargo-bikes-...

USDOT Ends Effort to Tie Transportation Funding to ICE Cooperation The department ended its effort to challenge a court ruling barring it from withholding federal grants over immigration enforcement.

The U.S. DOT has dropped its appeal to link federal transportation grants to immigration enforcement cooperation.

After a court ruled the move unlawful, states and local governments can no longer have funding withheld on that basis.

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/01...

San Francisco commute ranks third worst in US for traffic congestion, study finds (KRON) — San Francisco commuters lost 112 hours to traffic in 2025, ranking the city third in the United States for traffic congestion, according to a new study from navigation and GPS compan…

San Francisco now ranks 3rd worst in the U.S. for traffic congestion.

Commuters lost 112 hours in 2025, nearly two full workweeks, as return-to-office policies pushed more cars onto the road.

The takeaway: reliable, safe, and attractive public transit isn’t optional.

www.kron4.com/news/bay-are...

San Francisco's Central Subway gamble returns during a shaky moment for public transit Supervisor Danny Sauter is leading a renewed push to extend the subway to North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf.

San Francisco explores a Central Subway extension to North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf as SFMTA faces $300M annual deficits.

Officials say the project could boost transit access and local economic growth, but costs and funding remain key challenges.

www.axios.com/local/san-fr...

Three Years of Progress Toward a More Integrated Transit System Three years after establishing a regional network management structure to coordinate Bay Area transit, customers are beginning to experience real changes. A recent SPUR forum highlighted progress in implementing transit priority treatments, simplifying fare systems and signage, and increasing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. But sustaining these initiatives and transit operations more generally requires new funding.

Three years in, Bay Area transit is getting faster, simpler, and more accessible. Integrated fares, improved bus speeds, and clearer signage are already making a difference.

www.spur.org/news/2026-01...

Publishing for Planners: A New Era for Island Press As the legendary legacy publisher transitions into a new life phase, publisher Heather Boyer and senior editor Stacy Eisenstark reflect on the past and the future of creating books for planners.

Island Press, now part of Princeton University Press, continues shaping cities, planning, and sustainability with books that inform, inspire, and drive change.

www.planetizen.com/features/136...

What the world can learn from Paris’s cycling revolution The Paris cycling change did not happen by accident. It was driven by political will, strategic use of data, and a willingness to rethink street space.

In just five years, Paris doubled its cycling share, showing that with political will, bold planning, and people-first streets, even car-centric cities can transform.

Bikes are not just transport, they create cleaner air, safer streets, and vibrant urban life.

momentummag.com/what-the-wor...

US Traffic Patterns are Shifting, but Car-centric Development Persists Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Francisco ranked among the nation’s most congested cities, while New York reduced traffic and increased transit speed and ridership thanks to its congestion pricing program.

Traffic is changing in U.S. cities: work-from-home trends, climate events, and new policies are reshaping rush hours.

LA leads in congestion, NYC eases with pricing and transit growth, while Texas cities keep expanding car-focused infrastructure.

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/01...

This map shows the most dangerous streets for pedestrians and bicyclists in California 6,500 pedestrians and cyclists were killed in California between 2020 and 2024. This maps shows all of them.

Over 1,200 pedestrians and cyclists die on California streets each year. Chronicle maps 2020–2024 fatalities, highlighting the most dangerous streets and intersections.

www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...

SF city leaders discuss future of public transportation KRON4's Charles Clifford reports https://www.kron4.com/

San Francisco city leaders are discussing the future of public transportation amid mounting financial pressure and the risk of service cuts. The conversation highlights what’s at stake for riders, workers, and the city’s economy.

www.kron4.com/video/sf-cit...

Bay Area advocates take to the street to gain support for public transit funding measure - Local News Matters A LARGE COALITION of politicians, community leaders, and public transit advocates gathered in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza last week in support of a Bay Area transit advocates rally in San Francisco to back a petition for a 2026 sales tax ballot measure aimed at providing long-term funding and averting major service cuts.

A coalition of leaders and transit advocates launched a petition drive for the Connect Bay Area Act (SB 63) to fund BART, MUNI, Caltrain & AC Transit. Volunteers aim for 186K+ signatures by June to get the measure on the November 2026 ballot.

localnewsmatters.org/2026/01/26/b...

Campaign to Avert Bay Area Public Transit Death Spiral Gets Underway | KQED The Connect Bay Area Campaign must collect 186,000 signatures by early June to qualify a regional sales tax measure for the November ballot to fund regional transit.

The Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative aims to fund BART, MUNI, Caltrain & AC Transit through a regional sales tax, preventing severe service cuts. $3M raised for signatures and counting.

www.kqed.org/news/1207068...

District receives notice of committee's intent to work toward placement of sales tax measure on November ballot The newly formed Public Transit Revenue Measure District on Jan. 16 received a notice of intent from the Connect Bay Area Transit Committee to place a citizen’s initiative on the November 2026 ballot.

Bay Area’s Public Transit Revenue Measure District may put a citizen’s initiative on the November 2026 ballot. SB 63 proposes a retail tax across 5 counties for 14 years, 0.5% in most counties and 1% in San Francisco.

blog.bayareametro.gov/posts/distri...

BART-Uber partnership aims to streamline trips by integrating services under single app - Local News Matters BART and Uber officials on Tuesday morning announced a new partnership that they expect will streamline trips and provide more transportation options to

BART and Uber are partnering to simplify Bay Area transit. Book and pay for Uber rides to/from all 50 BART stations in the BART app. Limited subsidies are available at 10 stations.

localnewsmatters.org/2026/01/20/b...

VTA to bring thousands of homes online - San José Spotlight An effort to develop housing at public transit stations in Santa Clara County has awakened after being dormant for decades — and is expected to rake in lease profits, revive train ridership and accelerate bus stop frequency.

After decades of dormancy, VTA is bringing thousands of homes online near public transit in Santa Clara County. The first opens next week near Tamien Station with 135 affordable apartments, childcare, and better transit access. More projects are coming.

sanjosespotlight.com/vta-to-bring...

Tell MTC to Link Funding to Real Housing Outcomes - Transform Join Transform in taking action to urge MTC to support housing near transit through its transportation grants.

On Jan 28, MTC will decide how OBAG funding is allocated. These votes are critical for Bay Area sustainable development. TOC compliance must guide funding.

Email your MTC commissioner today and urge them to fund housing near transit, not sprawl.

transformca.org/tell-mtc-to-...

BART-Uber partnership aims to streamline trips by integrating services under single app - Local News Matters BART and Uber officials on Tuesday morning announced a new partnership that they expect will streamline trips and provide more transportation options to

BART riders can now book and pay for Uber trips directly in the BART app, making first- and last-mile connections easier. The partnership includes a $50K subsidy for select stations and aims to improve transit access as BART recovers post-pandemic.

localnewsmatters.org/2026/01/20/b...

District receives notice of committee's intent to work toward placement of sales tax measure on November ballot The newly formed Public Transit Revenue Measure District on Jan. 16 received a notice of intent from the Connect Bay Area Transit Committee to place a citizen’s initiative on the November 2026 ballot.

A citizen-led group aims to put a public transit sales tax on the Nov. 2026 ballot after the District decided not to advance a measure itself. Voters would decide if it moves forward.

blog.bayareametro.gov/posts/distri...

Automated Speed Enforcement Comes to Oakland - Transform Oakland streets are about to get safer as the city installs 18 cameras for automated speed enforcement under AB 645.

Oakland has launched automated speed enforcement under AB 645.

18 speed cameras on high-injury streets aim to curb speeding, improve safety, and reduce harmful traffic stops, with equity and privacy built into the pilot.

transformca.org/automated-sp...

Confirmed: Non-Driving Infrastructure Creates 'Induced Demand,' Too — Streetsblog USA Widening a highway to cure congestion is like losing weight by buying bigger pants — but thanks to the same principle of "induced demand," adding bike paths and train lines to cure climate actually works.

New research shows bike lanes and rail lines lead to more people choosing non-driving options and fewer car trips, helping cut emissions and reshape how cities move.

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/01/09/c...