Millions of people in the Bay Area rely on our public transportation system to get to school, to work, to health clinics, and back home to their families. And we are all affected by how well — or poorly — our public transit systems operate. The Transportation Equity Allied Movement Coalition (TEAMC) is a coalition of ~20 organizations working to advance transportation solutions that promote social equity, public health and safety, and environmental protection in San Mateo County.
In 2018, TEAMC launched a massive campaign to ensure that SamTrans, the county’s public transportation department, would prioritize community needs in its next expenditure plan. The plan will guide how $80 million in tax revenues are spent every year, shaping the future of transportation — and the lives of those who rely on it — for years to come.
In the spring of 2018, coalition members collected over 1,000 surveys, organized and attended multiple community meetings, met with elected officials and staff, generated coalition platforms and position papers, made calls and sent emails, and raised our concerns in public and stakeholder meetings.
Thanks to TEAMC’s persistent advocacy, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to put the plan on the November 2018 ballot. And, after an unprecedented turnout for the fall elections, the proposed sales tax measure — Measure W — was approved by the people of San Mateo. The measure ensures that transportation projects will prioritize the needs of those who most rely on public transportation, including low-income families, people of color, youth, seniors, immigrants, transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians.