Thank you for attending Move Bay Area WEST: Connecting the Bay Summit!

CEO of Bay Area Council emphasized the business community's strong support for the current regional transit funding measure to avert severe service cuts. Going forward, she advocated finding revenue sources not through taxes, but through improved land use and the revenue associated with it. She stressed her constituency's interest in strict fiscal accountability and agency efficiency.

 President of TWU Local 250A called for dedicated funding to safeguard operator jobs, improve workplace safety, and ensure proper retention and training, stressing that reliable service depends fundamentally on supporting the workforce that keeps the Bay Area moving. A former tour guide, he noted that tourism is our #1 industry in San Francisco and outlined public transit that caters to the tourist–many of whom come from transit-rich countries.  

 San Mateo County Supervisor and MTC Commissioner focused on transit equity for working-class families, youth, seniors, and low-income residents. A strong rider advocate and long-time rider, she posited that buses and bus shelters should feel as luxurious as trains to delete the image of being a “poor person’s way of getting around.” MTC Commissioner Corzo, an expert in rider experience, also encourages more frontline community voices in regional funding decisions. 

 Catalyst and Co-Founder of the Futures Commission urged transit leaders to adopt long-term, intergenerational futures thinking. She advocated for moving beyond short-term crisis management toward building climate-resilient, adaptable transit systems that prioritize community well-being, social cohesion, and transparent governance, giving examples from around the world of how different areas, in shifting focus from 3-5 years to 25, had moved infrastructure dollars from a six-lane highway to focus on public transportation with the goal of wellness for their people. 

SFMTA Director discussed addressing fare compliance through a customer-centric and equity-focused approach. She explained the  trust gap among paying riders, who feel people are not paying when they should. Muni responded to this trust gap by expanding field inspections, launching positive outreach campaigns, and partnering with social service organizations to enroll eligible riders in Clipper START.

CEO of SamTrans and SMCTA shared SamTrans' outstanding ridership recovery, currently at 102% of pre-pandemic levels. She attributed this success to the "Reimagine SamTrans" network redesign, which boosted service frequency on major corridors like El Camino Real, introduced flexible microtransit on the coast, and expanded targeted routes for students and essential workers. 

San Francisco International Airport Director celebrated Harvey Milk Terminal 1 being named the world's most beautiful airport terminal. He emphasized that SFO's success stems from intentional investments in passenger experience, celebrating local diversity of food, art, and culture, and embedding sustainability. He let us know of a pilot program inviting people to come to airports even when they are not flying, and emphasized that, while our transit is good, it could be event better for airport access. 

Caltrain Executive Director detailed Caltrain's successful regional service during major events like FIFA World Cup games. Through close multi-agency coordination, Caltrain efficiently moved 7,000 to 8,000 additional riders per game with 175 customer ambassadors, showcasing world-class service with zero major safety incidents. She noted that the riders really appreciated the human touch of the ambassadors, and said that’s a success to continue.