Connect Bay Area far surpasses 186,000 signatures required to qualify BART, regional transit funding measure 

By Jeff Cretan, West Advisors

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA — The Connect Bay Area campaign today announced it has submitted more than 305,000 signatures to qualify a regional transit funding measure for the November ballot — blowing past the 186,000 valid signatures required.

The success of this effort is built on one of the largest grassroots transit organizing efforts the region has ever seen and major support from business and labor organizations. 

The Connect Bay Area five-county sales tax measure would provide long-term operational funding for major Bay Area transit agencies, while supporting projects to strengthen and connect transit systems across the region. It will protect major transit agencies like BART from devastating service cuts and help VTA grow to better serve residents, workers, and businesses. 

Connect Bay Area also strengthens accountability for transit agencies. SB 63 – the legislation authored by Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin that enabled Connect Bay Area – set strong accountability requirements to take effect before the measure even gets on the ballot. The measure requires independent financial reviews and continued efficiency improvements from transit agencies. 

Unprecedented Grassroots, Labor, and Business Support

The Connect Bay Area Campaign has grown in support over the last several months with more than 80 elected officials and more than 90 labor groups and advocacy organizations signing on in support. Major businesses from across the region have helped to fundraise over $5.5 million so far to get the measure on the ballot and prepare for the November election.

Since launching in January, Connect Bay Area has mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers and advocates across Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. Supporters gathered signatures at transit stations, farmers markets, community events, neighborhood meetings, and major public gatherings throughout the Bay Area.

The overwhelming signature total reflects the broad support for transit and the awareness of urgency surrounding the future of Bay Area public transit. 

Without sustainable transit funding, the Bay Area could face catastrophic service reductions:

• BART: Up to 15 station closures, elimination of two lines, and service cuts of up to 70%
• Caltrain: Hourly train service, no weekend service, and weekday shutdowns after 9 p.m.
• Muni: At least 20 bus routes eliminated and service reductions of 30% or more
• AC Transit: Service cuts of at least 16%

The more than 300,000 signatures – which were the result of both a paid effort and an advocate-led grassroots effort – will now be officially counted and validated by the Departments of Elections for each of the five counties over the next few weeks before the measure can officially be placed on the ballot.

“We’re blown away by the over 1,000 Bay Area volunteers, transit advocates, and labor partners who  contributed to getting transit funding on the November ballot,” said Lian Chang, co-lead of the Connect Bay Area grassroots signature gathering effort. “This is the largest grassroots signature-gathering effort in the history of the Bay Area, and represents thousands of hours spent by people from all backgrounds and all corners of our five-county region to protect this thing—transit—that matters to millions of Bay Area residents. Everyday more voters are getting on board to support our economy, social justice, the environment and reducing congestion. And we’re just getting started.”

“This is a resounding statement by Bay Area voters that they believe in the value of our regional transit systems and how important they are to keeping our region moving,” said Libby Schaaf, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “Now we must turn our attention to November and protecting the many billions of dollars we’ve invested over many decades to build these systems while also making them more efficient, cost-effective, safe and convenient for the millions of commuters who rely on them.”

“Public transit is a cornerstone of our economy and an essential public good that keeps our region affordable for residents,” said Congressman Kevin Mullin. “Connect Bay Area will protect the public transportation service we all rely on while ensuring strong accountability so every dollar delivers reliable, safe transit.”

“The Bay Area’s public transit is a core pillar of our region’s ability to usher in a climate-smart, affordable, and just future,” said Amanda Brown-Stevens, Executive Director of the Greenbelt Alliance. “Greenbelt Alliance is excited to be a part of this grassroots coalition to help protect and enhance our public transportation and reduce pollution. 

About Connect Bay Area

The Connect Bay Area campaign will bring a five-county sales tax to the ballot in November 2026 through a citizen signature gathering effort. The rate will be set at 0.5%, with the exception that San Francisco will be set at a 1% rate to provide additional support for Muni. This measure will provide long-term operations funding for major Bay Area transit agencies and support regional projects to strengthen transit throughout the Bay Area. 

The Connect Bay Area measure will support the future of public transportation in the Bay Area:

• Protect and improve service on BART, Muni, Caltrain, SamTrans, VTA, and AC Transit
• Prevent catastrophic service cuts that could devastate the Bay Area
• Keep traffic and emissions down, preventing gridlock and protecting climate progress;
• Support the Bay Area’s economy, ensuring that downtown recovery and regional mobility remain strong.

Connect Bay Area has strong accountability and oversight provisions, including dependent financial reviews for every transit operator, regional coordination mandates to ensure systems work better together, and a citizen oversight committee to monitor spending and performance. A recent independent study required by Connect Bay Area found the agencies had saved $1 billion in operational efficiencies and set new actions for the agencies to take to further improve efficiency and service.

The Connect Bay Area Transit Committee is comprised of labor, business, and transit advocates, including Bay Area Council, SEIU 1021, ATU 1555, SPUR, and SAMCEDA, alongside an advocacy council of more than 20 organizations representing transit, housing, environmental, equity, and senior and disability groups.

For more information about the Connect Bay Area campaign or to get involved, visit https://connectbayarea.com/

Paid effort also working before June 6th deadline in 5 Bay Area counties

By Allen D. Payton

On Wednesday, April 22nd, volunteer transit advocates celebrated gathering 46,300 signatures for the regional transit sales tax funding measure to help qualify it for the November ballot.

“’As of today, we’ve surpassed 46,300,’ wrote advocate Cyrus Hall in a celebratory email, according to a report by StreetsBlog SF. The goal was that by now they would ‘collect 45,000 grassroots signatures for Connect Bay Area by today.’”

While the effort must gather a total of the required 186,000 valid signatures of registered voters in the five Bay Area counties of Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara by June 6, the Connect Bay Area has raised more than $3 million to fund the paid-for effort.

“Insiders told Streetsblog that the larger, paid signature-gathering campaign is also on track, although its exact tabulations are a guarded secret,” the report added.

As previously reported, the proposed half-cent sales tax increase in four of the counties and one cent in San Francisco will last for 14 year duration and would generate about $1 billion per year.

Revenue from the tax measure will benefit multiple transit agencies in the region including Tri Delta Transit, County Connection and WestCat, as well as AC Transit and BART which serve Contra Costa County residents.

Following is a county-by-county breakdown of the County Specific Dollars. It does not include money going to BART, Muni, AC Transit and Caltrain, or to regional improvements that aren’t designated by county, such as coordinated fare programs and accessibility improvements:

County Agencies:

• Contra Costa Transportation Authority (2.5%, $26.51M)
• Alameda County Transportation Commission (1%, $10.26M)
• San Mateo County Transit District (4.7%, $50M)
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (25.1%, $264.07M)

Small Operators:

• Contra Costa County small operators (1.5%, $15.75M)
• Alameda County small operators (0.5%, $5.25M)
• SF Bay Ferry (0.7%, $7M)
• Golden Gate Transit (0.1%, $1M)

Without new and sustainable operations funding, the BART Board could shut down two of its five lines, close as many as 15 stations, and reduce service from 4,500 trains per week to just 500, with trains running only hourly and no weekend service. (See related article)

Roadmap toward transit recovery and an affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant region for all

By John Goodwin, Assistant Director Of Communications & Leslie Lara-Enríquez, Assistant Director, Public Engagement, Metropolitan Transportation Commission

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) today unanimously adopted  Plan Bay Area 2050+ and certified the plan’s associated Environmental Impact Report — giving final approval to the Bay Area’s long-range plan for transportation, housing, economic resiliency and environmental sustainability.

Plan Bay Area 2050+ was adopted unanimously by the Association of Bay Area Governments’ (ABAG) Executive Board last week. The votes by both boards cap a nearly three-year process during which over 17,600 Bay Area residents, community organizations, advocacy groups and public sector partners contributed to the development of the new plan, which MTC and ABAG are required to develop jointly. 

Defined by 35 strategies for transportation, housing, the economy and the environment, Plan Bay Area 2050+ lays out a suite of policies and investments that define what it would take to make the nine-county region more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and economically vibrant for all residents through 2050 and beyond. From housing and transportation strategies that would reduce cost of living and construct more affordable housing to investments in public transit that prioritize service improvements in Equity Priority Communities, the goal of a more equitable Bay Area is interwoven throughout the plan. With a major focus on climate change, strategies also are crafted for resilience, including protection from hazards such as sea level rise and wildfires. 

ABAG Executive Board President and Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos, who also serves as an MTC Commissioner, acknowledged some of the region’s biggest challenges the plan seeks to address. “Today, our communities face rising costs, widening inequality and persistent housing shortages,” said Ramos. “This is not the future we want for the generations of Bay Area residents to come. Plan Bay Area 2050+ charts a course for how we can bring about our shared vision for a Bay Area where everyone has access to opportunity and a better quality of life.”

Unique to this plan cycle is the parallel Transit 2050+ planning effort, developed in partnership with Bay Area transit agencies, which culminated in the first-of-its-kind plan to re-envision the future of public transportation across the region.

“Plan Bay Area 2050+ will help shape the vital service improvements and funding solutions we need to keep Bay Area transit running, while also making it faster, more frequent, more reliable, safer and better connected,” explained MTC Commission Chair and Pleasant Hill City Councilmember Sue Noack. “Plan Bay Area 2050+ lays the groundwork for how our region can meet the challenges of today, while also advancing a shared vision for an even better tomorrow.” 

Plan Bay Area 2050+’s policy and investment framework has the potential to strengthen the region for decades to come, representing a major step toward a stronger, more resilient future. 

ABAG is the council of governments and the regional planning agency for the 101 cities and towns, and nine counties of the Bay Area. Contra Costa County is represented by District 4 Supervisor Ken Carlson, District 5 Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, El Cerrito Councilwoman Lisa Motoyama and Walnut Creek Councilwoman Cindy Silva.

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Contra Costa County is representatives include Chair Sue Noack Mayor of Pleasant Hill representing the cities of Contra Costa County and District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen representing Contra Costa County.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Proposed Plan for housing, transportation, the economy and environment in the nine counties will go to committee for review on Friday, March 13

Offers strategies, investments and outcomes for Contra Costa County

By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Leslie Lara-Enríquez Assistant Director, Public Engagement, Metropolitan Transportation Commission

After nearly three years of public discussion, technical analysis and refinement, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments last Friday released the proposed final Plan Bay Area 2050+ and the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Plan Bay Area 2050+. 

Plan Bay Area 2050+ is the latest long-range plan to guide growth and investment across the region’s nine counties and 101 cities. The plan seeks to advance an integrated vision for a Bay Area that is affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant for all by 2050. It focuses on the four areas of housing, transportation, the economy and environment.

The plan and its related reports will be presented for review and consideration at a joint meeting of the MTC Planning Committee with the ABAG Administrative Committee on Friday, March 13, before the documents are referred to their respective approving bodies. The ABAG Executive Board will consider certification of the Final EIR and adoption of the final plan at its March 19 meeting. At its March 25 meeting, MTC will consider certifying the Final EIR and adopting the final plan, as well as adopting the accompanying Air Quality Conformity Analysis and an amendment to the 2025 Transportation Improvement Program. 

The release of the proposed final Plan Bay Area 2050+ follows a 59-day public comment period for the Draft Plan and the Draft EIR that closed on December 18, 2025. The proposed final plan and Final EIR have been updated to reflect feedback received during the public comment period.

The Plan includes Partner Resources: Regional Tools for Local Action that local jurisdictions and partner agencies can use to develop plans, seek funding and take action to make a better Bay Area. It offers a fact sheet for each county, including Contra Costa, which spotlights strategies, investments and outcomes.

Plan Bay Area 2050+ is the latest long-range regional plan for the nine-county Bay Area. The plan lays out a series of funding and policy strategies that can create a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant future for all Bay Area residents in 2050. Unique to this plan cycle is the parallel Transit 2050+ planning effort, which culminated in the first-of-its-kind plan to re-envision the future of Bay Area public transit, in partnership with transit agencies across the region.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa’s 4 representatives vote to adopt Alternative Service Plan to balance budget including 1,170 employee layoffs

Ridership still down 50% post-COVID

By Allen D. Payton

On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, the BART Board of Directors, on vote of 8-1, adopted an Alternative Service Plan outlining specific budget balancing details to solve a $376M deficit for the next fiscal year if no new funds become available to BART. According to a District press release, BART is facing a structural deficit of $350M to $400M because ridership is still down 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels and BART’s current funding model relies heavily on passenger fares. 

As previously reported by the Herald, the stations on the list for potential Phase 1 closure in January 2027 include the 10 lowest ridership stations: North Concord, Orinda, Pittsburg Center, Oakland International Airport, West Dublin/Pleasanton, Castro Valley, San Bruno, South Hayward, South San Francisco and Warm Springs/South Fremont.

Phase 2 Closures Include Antioch and Pittsburg/Bay Point Stations

The Phase 2 – July 2027 Segment Closure Scenario, Contingent on Phase 1 implementation, would result in a 70% reduction in train hours and 25% reduction in system miles; Segment closures would stop service on most system segments opened after 1976: Yellow line service would end at Concord, shuttering the Pittsburg/Bay Point and Antioch Stations; Orange line service would end at Bay Fair,; Blue line service would be discontinued shuttering the West Dublin/Pleasanton Station; Most stations south of Daly City would be closed except for direct service to SFO would continue for revenue retention; Service continues to Milpitas and Berryessa due to terms of BART/VTA agreements.

Based on Proposed Transit Tax Measure Failing

The plan is based on the assumption a sales tax increase measure proposed for the November ballot in five Bay Area counties fails. As previously reported, voters would be asked to consider a one-half sales tax increase in Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and a one-cent sales tax increase in San Francisco County. The 14-year regional transportation sales tax would generate approximately $980 million annually with 60 percent dedicated to preserving service on BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit, as well as San Francisco Bay Ferry and smaller transit agencies providing service in the five counties to keep buses, trains and ferries moving, including WestCat, County Connection and Tri Delta Transit. About one-third of the revenue would go to Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Santa Clara VTA, SamTrans and the Alameda County Transportation Commission, with flexibility to use funds for transit capital, operations, or road paving projects on roads with regular bus service.

Also, as previously reported, an effort is underway to gather signatures to place the measure on the ballot. The sales tax increase would be in addition to the half-cent sales tax for BART operations in Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco counties in place since the 1960’s.

Motion and Vote Details

Following public comments and discussion among the Board members a vote was taken on the following motion: The Board adopts the attached Resolution “In the Matter of Initially Approving an Alternative Service Plan to Take Effect January 2027 in the Event the Connect Bay Area Measure Fails to Receive Voter Approval at the Statewide General Election on November 3, 2026 and BART is Unable to Secure Other Revenue Sources.”

The motion was made by District 4 Director Robert Raburn, seconded by District 1 Director Matt Rinn, and passed on a vote of 8-1 with the additional support of District 7 Director Victor Flores, District 2 Director Mark Foley, District 3 Director Barnali Gosh, District 8 Director Janice Li, Board Vice President and District 9 Director Edward Wright and Board President and District 5 Director Melissa Hernandez.

District 6 Director Liz Ames was the only member of the Board of Directors to vote “No”.

Foley represents portions of Central County and all of East County, Rinn represents portions of Central Contra Costa County, all of Lamorinda and most of the San Ramon Valley, Gosh represents all of West County and Hernandez represents portions of San Ramon.

Approved Plan Details

The plan includes specific cuts and financial strategies needed to balance both the FY27 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and FY28 (July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028) budgets. The plan includes service cuts, station closures, fare increases, a 40% reduction in system support services, laying off 1,170 employees and a series of deferrals and one-time resources. The plan does not name specific stations to be closed and makes clear the BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station closures. You can read the Alternative Service Plan resolution, resolution attachment and presentation to the BART Board.

BART has already made budget cuts across all departments and instituted a series of cost controls, including rightsizing service, labor savings, operational efficiencies, and reducing BART’s office space footprint. At the same time, BART has also worked to increase revenue by installing new fare gates, leasing out BART parking lots, and offering new fare products such as Clipper BayPass. View a detailed list of cost savings implement by BART at bart.gov/fiscalcliff. 

Alternative Service Plan Details 

To take place in January 2027: 

• 3-line service (Yellow, Blue, and Orange line service only, with limited peak service in only the peak commute direction on the Red and Green lines). 
• 30-minute frequencies on every line.  
• Closing at 9 pm seven days a week.  
• This service plan represents a 63% reduction in train hours. 
• 30% fare and parking fee increases (the estimated average fare would increase from $4.98 to $6.38). 
• Target approximately $30M in savings over 6 months from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions. 
• Continue deferrals of priority capital allocations and retiree medical contributions. 
• Balance remainder of FY27 with one-time resources and financial deferrals. 

Following the January 2027 cuts, staff will continuously assess ridership and revenue impacts and the performance of all District functions to determine if further reductions can be safely and legally implemented. 

To take place in July 2027 if feasibly safe: 

• Target over $175M in annual cost reductions through a cumulative 70% reduction in service hours: 
• Maintain 3-line service, 30-minute frequencies on each line, closing at 9pm. 
• Close up to 15 stations and/or up to 25% of system track miles. 
• The BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station or line segment closures. 
• Increase fares and parking fees up to a cumulative 50%. The estimated average fare would increase to $7.26. 
• Target annual operating expense savings of more than a cumulative $130M from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions. 
• Continue to defer retiree health contributions; defer most remaining capital allocations. 

Contingency: 

• If at any point it is determined BART can’t safely or legally operate with available resources, stop passenger service.
• Use existing District tax revenues to secure system assets. 
• Work to determine system’s future. 

Use of the State Loan  

BART can’t use state loan money to avoid station closures and service cuts if no new revenue becomes available because without new revenue, there is no way to pay the loan back. The state loan primarily helps with cash flow if a November 2026 transit funding measure is successful. It is a bridge loan that gives BART reassurances money will be available to continue to deliver the best service possible until the sales tax dollars from the successful ballot measure become available for BART’s use. This is projected to happen in July 2027 but could take longer. If a funding measure succeeds, BART will use $97M in loan funds to help balance the FY27 budget.  

Including 7 traffickers in Contra Costa County; Contra Costa DA’s Office, Pittsburg PD participate

By Lt. Joshua Singleton, Task Force Commander, Human Trafficking Task Force, Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office                 

Days after the Super Bowl, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force reported its own statistics: numbers that showed enhanced investigations resulted in the arrests of 29 traffickers and the recovery of 73 sex trafficking victims, including 10 minors. One of the victims, who was being trafficked in Oakland, was 12 years old.

Law enforcement operations were held throughout 11 Bay Area counties during the lead up to one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Similar enforcement is being prepared for the deluge of fans coming to see the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament games at Levi’s Stadium between June 13 and July 1.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “Beyond football, the Super Bowl was a triumph of Bay Area law enforcement planning, organization, cooperation, and safety. Human trafficking is not a game, it’s a tragedy. However, our team was very successful. Close to 70 agencies effectively discouraged traffickers from exploiting the game and victims. For traffickers that still came to the game from all over the world with bad intentions, many ended up behind bars.”

The HTTF helped organize the efforts of 67 law enforcement agencies from Sacramento to Monterey.

For two weeks before the Big Game, the Task Force set up a command center in Sunnyvale populated with more than 20 analysts from various agencies, such as the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s Crime Strategies Unit, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department, federal agencies, and partners from community-based organizations such as In Our Backyard, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The analysts worked on tips in real time and worked alongside agents in the field to do investigations and make arrests. Operations that often take weeks took minutes in the enhanced Human Trafficking Tactical Operations Center.

Launching almost 40 operations, investigators recovered 20 victims from San Mateo County alone. Seven traffickers were arrested in Contra Costa; six in Monterey and Solano counties. In Santa Clara County, seven victims were recovered, two traffickers arrested and a firearm was seized. 

View the In Our Backyard 2026 Super Bowl Report.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Nathaniel Leon Yancey, III fled with two others sought by police; faces multiple charges, bail set at $101,667

By Benicia Police Department

Yesterday, Feb. 18, 2026, around 12:00 p.m., our dispatch center received a call from a resident that had been robbed of her purse and phone (note: no weapons used) as she approached the front door of her home. The incident happened in a neighborhood near Rose Drive and Columbus Parkway in Benicia. Three suspects were involved and fled the scene in a vehicle that had stolen plates. Using the stolen plate number, we were able to confirm through our ALPR system (Flock) that the vehicle was in the area of the robbery at the time it happened and also discover that the vehicle had entered the City of Antioch shortly after the robbery.

Our partners at Antioch Police Department were able to locate and stop the vehicle at which time all three suspects fled on foot. One of the suspects, Nathaniel Leon Yancey, III, a 22-year-old male from Antioch, was captured at 2:09 p.m. in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way in Antioch, brought back to Benicia PD, positively identified and subsequently transported to County Jail for booking. The suspect’s vehicle was towed back to Benicia PD and the stolen possessions were located inside.

According to the Benicia Police Department’s Citizen RIMS, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 170-pound Yancey is Black and is charged with felony robbery, felony causing injury to an elder or dependent adult, felony conspiracy to commit a crime, violating civil rights by force or threat of force, receiving/etc. known stolen property and petty theft – all other larceny. He is currently being held in the Justice Center Detention Facility in Fairfield.

According to the Solano County Sheriff’s Department, he was born 10/23/2003, and also faces one felony charge of probation violation, rearrest/revoke. Yance’s bail is set at $101,667 and his court date is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court, Fairfield.

According to localcrimenews.com, while a resident of Rodeo, he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2025, in Solano County by Solano CHP, for evasion of a peace officer on the wrong side of the median and evasion with wanton disregard for safety.

Detectives continue to follow leads in order to locate and arrest the other individuals involved. Case #26-00236.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Morning and evening riders participated in a game to make personal connections while riding transit

By Transbay Coalition

Yesterday, Wednesday, February 11th, was International Make A Friend Day, and transit advocates were helping people throughout the region to make a friend on transit.  Morning and evening riders participated in a game across Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties to make personal connections while riding transit.

Early that morning hundreds of Bay Area residents participated in Make a Friend (On Transit) Day and wore name tags as they went about their regular BART, Caltrain, ferry and bus trips to celebrate the day and build camaraderie in the Bay.

“It’s good for us all to remember the old saying that strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet.” said Carter Lavin, Transbay Coalition Co-Founder. “Transit is a shared public resource, connects us all, and is an integral part of our community. Make A Friend (On Transit) Day may be simple and a bit silly, but we hope it can bring a little more joy and connection.”

Between 7:30 and 9am at 10 BART stations, five Caltrain stations and one ferry terminal across the region, transit advocates across the region passed out materials at all corners of the Bay from Antioch to San Jose, San Francisco to Dublin/Pleasanton, Redwood City to Oakland. Despite a drizzly morning, transit riders wearing name tags with, “Hi my name is _____, ask me about ______” got to know one another while chatting about a range of topics including Bad Bunny, 3D printing, R&B, dancing, hobbits, and much more. A nice reminder that making a new friend can be as simple as getting to know your fellow transit rider. 

“Make a Friend Day reminds us that friendship is a powerful bond that connects us all. Let public transit be that bridge; a simple hello to a fellow passenger today has the potential to brighten someone’s world,” says Tri Delta Transit CEO Rashidi Barnes.

In the evening, Transbay Coalition hosted free events at five locations around the Bay for people to gather and have another opportunity for folks to make some new friends.

“Make A Friend on Transit Day is a great reminder that our buses and stations are shared community spaces,” said Bill Churchill, General Manager of County Connection. “A simple hello can go a long way.”

Tri Delta Transit, County Connection and LAVTA Wheels helped  with nametag distribution at Antioch, Concord and Dublin/Pleasanton BART stations– which are also bus hubs served by the agencies. BART, Caltrain and SF Bay Ferry promoted the events on social media.

“SF Bay Ferry loves to welcome enthusiastic riders onboard our vessels. We hope that Make a Friend on Transit Day is an opportunity for passengers to connect about their favorite experiences on the ferry,” shared Teo Saragi, SF Bay Ferry spokesperson.

About Transbay Coalition

The Transbay Coalition is a grassroots public transportation advocacy group championing bold near-term solutions to the Bay Area’s regional transportation crisis. Founded to campaign for dedicated bus-only lanes on the Bay Bridge and its approaches, we’re striving to create an equitable and efficient public transit system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our Mission and Vision is to build an equitable, seamless, and successful transportation network in the Bay Area by building a broad-based, ongoing, grassroots movement to advocate for equitable, sustainable public transportation.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.