A New Hampshire resident leaves a voting booth after casting her vote in the New Hampshire presidential primary at the Ward 3 Carol M. Rines Center January 8, 2008 in Manchester, New Hampshire. New Hampshire residents vote today in the nation’s first presidential primary. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Caltrain has lost significant ridership and subsequent funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, but after Tuesday's election, it may receive a lifeline and long-term financial support.
Measure RR, which requires a two-thirds vote from three Bay Area counties, looks like it will comfortably pass with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
As of early Wednesday morning, San Francisco County reported 74 percent in favor of the measure, San Mateo County with 72 percent in favor and Santa Clara County with 67 percent supporting it.
"With the passage of Measure RR, Caltrain now has for the first time in its nearly 30-year history a reliable and dedicated funding source," said San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, who also serves as the chairman of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board that oversees Caltrain.
The measure would implement an eighth-cent sales tax increase in the three counties that would raise an estimated $108 million every year for 30 years.
Caltrain depends on fares for nearly 70 percent of its revenue and lost up to 95 percent of its ridership during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order -- created an $18.5 million budget deficit.
"Measure RR funds will allow Caltrain to weather the COVID pandemic with continued service and provide faster, more frequent, and affordable service in the future," Pine said.
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The sales tax will also fund electrification of the train line and fund an equity plan that provides fares at half-price to low-income riders.
"Caltrain will continue to be a critical component of our public transit network and will help sustainably and equitably drive our economic recovery," Pine said.
The numbers from early Wednesday are not yet certified.
