<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Unfortunately, because of the regressive sales tax that the MTC commissioners supported, rather than a wealth or corporate tax, it is not known whether there will be enough money for adequate transportation within the five counties. We also don\u2019t know to what extent accessibility will be measured and provided in this measure. We definitely need more transportation. Bart will be hurt, but all transit systems will be sharply cut if they do not get more money, but we as disabled people must be concerned about accessibility and right now even though MTC refuses to admit it most transit in the bay area is not fully accessible with a very few exceptions. I believe at SFMTANVTA are doing the most to provide accessible transportation, but even they must do much more And again unfortunately this transit does not require transit district higher qualified people with disabilities in key access, accessibility positions and as transit planners.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Apr 17, 2026, at 2:27\u202fPM, Sheela Gunn via groups.io <sheela=topgunntet.com@groups.io> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr">\ufeff
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<font size="4" face="Calibri">Hi, All, please share widely, but *do
not* reply to all. There are 4 lists being sent to, here. Thanks
for helping to amplify. :)<br>
S<br>
<br>
Do you ride BART, AC Transit, Muni, Caltrain, Paratransit or other
public transit in the San Francisco Bay Area?<br>
<br>
Petitions to put "Connect Bay Area," a regional measure, on the
2026 ballot are being gathered. <br>
You must be registered to vote in:<br>
* Alameda<br>
* Contra Costa<br>
* San Francisco<br>
* San Mateo or<br>
* Santa Clara county to sign one. Petition signing events are
happening near you *right now!*<br>
<br>
Every day, people throughout the Bay Area take nearly 1 million
trips on public transit. But our communities are at risk of losing
massive amounts of transit service that we depend on. This would
be a disaster for families, businesses, and our entire community.<br>
Two ballot measures will prevent cuts and improve service (one for
San Francisco County, and one for the five largest bay area
counties listed above), but only if voters pass them in November
2026. To get the two measures on the ballot, and secure victories
for both, we need 200,000 signatures of registered voters in the
five counties, and we're halfway there! There is a *signing party*
scheduled at the *East Bay Center for the Blind* on *Wednesday,
May 6th* from *1:00 PM - 2:30 PM*. An educational event may be
coming to the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley soon, and, if getting
an event going at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind is
logistically feasible, we'll have an event there, as well.<br>
<br>
Here's the home page of the Bay Connect campaign:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.transbaycoalition.org/regional-transit-measure/">https://www.transbaycoalition.org/regional-transit-measure/</a><br>
Here's the calendar of where petition takers will be collecting
signatures.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://luma.com/connectbayarea?k=c">https://luma.com/connectbayarea?k=c</a><br>
* Possible inaccessibility alert. I had trouble with the calendar
using NVDA.<br>
<br>
The situation will become dire if we don\u2019t take action.<br>
\u2022 <br>
BART would be forced to close up to 15 stations, shut the Blue
Line (Dublin/Pleasanton) down entirely and reduce other lines to
only peak hour service or shortening routes, cut train service
hours by 70%, and cut 25% of the miles off the system.<br>
\u2022 <br>
Muni would be forced to cut 50% of all bus and Metro lines,
including eliminating entire neighborhood routes, ending regular
service at 9pm (with only bare-bones late-night service), and
removing San Francisco\u2019s iconic historic cable cars and trolleys.<br>
\u2022 <br>
AC Transit would be forced to cut up to 37% of its service which
would also mean entire routes eliminated and worse service on the
remaining routes. This would bring transit service down to half of
pre-pandemic levels<br>
\u2022 <br>
Caltrain would be forced to run service only once an hour, provide
no weekend service, eliminate weekday service after 9pm, and close
10 stations.<br>
\u2022 <br>
VTA and SamTrans are also looking at significant upcoming budget
deficits which would force similarly devastating cuts.<br>
Public transit is the lifeblood of the Bay Area. Without the bus,
train, and ferry service our communities depend on, older folks,
families, and people with disabilities will not be able to get
where we need to go for work, school, visiting family and friends,
medical appointments, and worship.<br>
<br>
freeways would become clogged, our economy would stall, our air
would be dirtier, and people who drive, or can afford to use ride
sharing services would have to shell out thousands of dollars more
each year on transportation network companies, or car payments,
gas, electricity (for electric vehicles), and insurance.<br>
However, there is a way we can save families money on
transportation, unsnarl traffic, grow the economy, clean our air,
and create a more equitable and affordable Bay Area. <br>
<br>
"But how can *I* help fix it?"<br>
<br>
Sign a petition to get this regional transit measure on the
ballot, then vote "Yes" on it in November, and tell all your
friends to do the same!<br>
<br>
This 2026 regional transit ballot measure will raise $1 billion
per year to prevent cuts and improve service.<br>
Bay Area residents in the big 5 counties \u2013 Alameda, Contra Costa,
San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Mateo \u2013 will have the chance
to save transit at the November 2026 election. <br>
But first, we must gather over 200,000 signatures to get the
measure *on* the ballot.<br>
Not only will this measure save our communities from disastrous
cuts, but it will make service easier, faster, more efficient, and
affordable for all by funding rider-focused improvements like: <br>
\u2022 <br>
Free/reduced priced transfers between systems.<br>
\u2022 <br>
Standardized regional maps and signs to help riders easily
navigate transit.<br>
\u2022 <br>
Infrastructure upgrades to make transit faster and more reliable.<br>
\u2022 <br>
Programs for low-income riders and riders with disabilities.<br>
<br>
***Get involved in the fight to save Bay Area transit!***<br>
<br>
Contact Warren Cushman<br>
510-971-0959 or <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:porpie5472@gmail.com"><porpie5472@gmail.com></a><br>
for details.<br>
<br>
</font>
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