MTC Approves Budget, Sends $165.8M to BART, Sets Framework for Transit Ballot Measure

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission locked in its annual budget, channeled state capital dollars to BART's Transbay expansion, and adopted the spending blueprint for a future multibillion-dollar regional transit ballot measure — all unanimously — at its June 24 meeting. Meanwhile, a state audit validated the Bay Area's transit coordination model but warned that operators could burn through reserves by fiscal year 2027.

• $165.8M in state capital funds allocated to BART for the Transbay Core Capacity Program, with a public commenter flagging a $1.1 billion gap on the separate BART Silicon Valley extension
• SB 63 rider-focused expenditure plan approved, setting rules for how future ballot measure revenues would be spent on transit improvements; a critical special meeting set for July 24
• FY 2026-27 budget adopted with a 3.8% cost-of-living adjustment, $600K operating deficit, and nearly $79M in reserves — more than double the policy minimum
• $150M Safe Routes to Transit and Bay Trail Cycle 2 guidelines adopted, establishing criteria for the next round of active transportation grants
• State audit finds East Bay transit consolidation offers limited benefit but dings MTC on timeline slippage for its Transit Transformation Action Plan
• Public Participation Plan deferred to August after a commissioner pulled the 90-page document from consent for a full staff presentation

The Commission unanimously approved Resolution 4767, a rider-focused expenditure plan that will govern how revenues from a future regional transit ballot measure — authorized by the Connect Bay Area Act (SB 63, 2025) — would be spent.