Transportation is key to the economic success of the Bay Area. As we move forward to strengthen our economy in these challenging times, it is essential to provide the necessary support to shore up the system and to ensure sustainable success. As a union, we want to recognize the dedication and commitment of the workers who have kept the transportation system moving and ensuring that Bay Area communities get the support that they need to go about their lives.

We also want to thank Governor Newsom for his unwavering support of Bay Area public transit Agencies. As San Francisco’s former mayor, Governor Newsom clearly understands the importance of BART, CalTrain, MUNI, and AC Transit to our regional economy and the lives of all who live, work and visit here. Public transit is necessary. It is how hundreds of thousands of workers get to their jobs, students attend school, and seniors receive medical care, just to name a few.

We want to recognize Governor Newsom’s commitment to transit despite economic uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs, a terrible wildfire impacting the Los Angeles region, and a Republican Congress ripping healthcare away from millions of Americans. In 2023 Governor Newsom delivered $5.1 billion in historic investments to California’s public transit agencies and earlier this year secured $1.1 billion in funding to avoid major public transit reductions. In the state budget signed by the Governor in July, there was an additional agreement for a $750 million loan to ensure Bay Area transit operators can continue focusing on service and ridership improvements instead of cuts in the next fiscal year. We look forward to securing these resources to continue the work.

We applaud the announcement from the Governor that he is committed to supporting the needs of Bay Area Transit Agencies and securing funding for transit in SB 105 to prevent impacts to staffing or service levels. We have full confidence that Governor Newsom will once again deliver for workers and our communities as the final funding details are completed in the weeks ahead.