Bay Area Advocates Rally Urging Newsom To Finalize $750M Transit Loan

Bay Area public transit agencies, including BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit, are facing severe financial deficits threatening drastic service cuts unless a $750 million emergency loan from Governor Gavin Newsom is approved promptly. Advocates, riders, and politicians held rallies in San Francisco demanding that the governor honor his commitment to provide the loan, which is considered critical to maintaining service until a regional funding measure, Senate Bill 63, takes effect in 2027. Without the loan, BART could reduce service by 65-85%, including running trains only once an hour, closing stations, cutting weekend service, and laying off workers, while Muni may cut service frequency by half and eliminate fare subsidies for low-income riders. Governor Newsom’s office has indicated a desire to finalize the loan deal by fall, but transit agencies and supporters warn that any delay risks immediate and devastating service cuts, as highlighted by a recent BART shutdown caused by a computer glitch. State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin have been negotiating the loan terms, emphasizing the urgency as public transit is vital for millions of passengers and the overall transportation infrastructure. The regional funding measure on the 2026 ballot will provide longer-term relief, but the emergency loan remains essential to bridge the gap and prevent transit collapse in the near term.