SF Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Board Votes Unanimously to Support Prop. 22

Prop. 22 Stops State Raids of Local Government, Transportation and Transit Funds. Protects Public Transit Services, Local Public Safety, Emergency Response, and Other Vital Local Services

For Immediate Release: August 18, 2010

Contact: Kathy Fairbanks, (916) 443-0872

Sacramento, CA – The Yes on 22 campaign, Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services, announced today that the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) voted unanimously to support Proposition 22 on the November ballot.

BART joins more than 500 transit, transportation, public safety, local governments, business, labor, taxpayer and community groups supporting Proposition 22. Click here for a complete list of supporters. Prop. 22 would prevent the State from taking, diverting or borrowing local government, transportation and public transit funds.

“Sacramento raids of local public transit funds have resulted in deep cuts to the rail services that hundreds of thousands of Bay Area working families depend upon to get them to work, home, and life’s responsibilities,” said Carole Ward Allen, BART Director. “Because of continuing state legislative raids, BART has had to cut off-peak service, increase fares to riders and delay necessary improvements. Prop. 22 will help stop raids of local transit funds and help protect the services we provide to Bay Area residents.”

Yes on 22 will:

•    STOP the State from taking or borrowing local tax dollars dedicated to cities and counties to fund vital local services like 9-1-1 response, police, and fire protection.

•    STOP the State from taking or diverting gas taxes we pay at the pump that voters have dedicated to local road repairs, transportation improvements, and public transportation.