Transportation

California’s $3.1 Billion Transit Bailout Forces Trade-Offs

  • Package intended as lifeline for state’s mass transit systems
  • Governor Newsom yet to respond to lawmakers’ transit proposal

A Bay Area Rapid Transit train in San Francisco.

Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California lawmakers agreed to provide billions of dollars to the state’s ailing mass transit systems as agencies face continued ridership losses and the expiration of federal pandemic-era subsidies.

The package worth more than $3.1 billion offers new operating subsidies and infrastructure dollars intended to help prevent severe service cuts that would further hamper the recovery of cities throughout the state.