If the measure is passed, it would generate over $100 million per year to support Caltrain’s operation.Photo – Caltrain FacebookThe San Mateo County Transit District's (SMCTD) board earlier this week authorized Caltrain to place a 1/8-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in California.
If passed, the measure would generate more than $100 million annually to support Caltrain’s operation and expansion of electrified rail service.
SMCTD is the first of six agencies to authorize the ballot measure. The remaining boards are expected to consider the same action over the next few months, San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SamTrans) officials said in a press release.
The investment would help fund Caltrain's plan to begin electrified service in 2022 with 168 trains per day instead of the currently planned 116.
Caltrain is the only transit service in the San Francisco Bay Area without a dedicated source of funding, SamTrans officials said.
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