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AARP Endorses Ballot Measure to Protect Public Transportation and Keep Older Adults Moving in the Bay Area
Today, AARP California, announced its support for the Connect Bay Area regional transit funding measure on the November 2026 general election ballot.
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San Jose, California – Today, AARP California, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization representing 3.2 million older adults throughout the state, announced its support for the Connect Bay Area regional transit funding measure on the November 2026 general election ballot.
Safe, accessible, and affordable public transportation is essential for older adults' quality of life. Low-cost services such as trains and buses connect family, friends, and community. In one of the most expensive places in the nation to live, older adults depend on Bay Area transit services such as BART and AC Transit to get to their jobs, medical appointments, and volunteer and social activities. Many older adults also depend on caregivers and in-home health providers who commute into the Bay Area on public transit.
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At a fraction of the cost of car ownership—especially considering skyrocketing fuel prices and insurance rates—public transit becomes even more critical for people on retirement and fixed incomes. This demographic is becoming an increasingly larger share of the overall Bay Area population. By 2030, nearly two in five residents of the region will be over 50.
Between the affordability crisis and demographic shift, AARP strongly supports the Connect Bay Area regional transit funding ballot measure.
“No one should lose their independence just because they can’t afford a car,” said Michael Murray, AARP California State Director. “As the Bay Area grows older, public transit is what keeps people connected to their communities instead of isolated from them. Passing the Connect Bay Area ballot measure will ensure that older adults, now and in the future, will benefit from reliable, affordable public transit.”
In California and across the nation, AARP has advocated for improving public transportation services, based on feedback from its members. In a recent AARP survey, 66% of US adults age 50+ plus say it is important to them to have a variety of transportation options available in their community, including buses and trains. The majority of older adults prioritize transportation systems that are timely, safe, and accessible, with 6 out of 10 rating these features as extremely or very important.
At AARP, we believe policymakers should expand and improve affordable, accessible public transportation, and provide funding sufficient for providers to meet demand. This measure does exactly that. Through a half-cent sales tax increase in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties, and a one-cent sales tax increase in San Francisco, the measure generates about $980 million annually for 14 years to prevent major transit service cuts—including potential BART station closures and significant reductions to AC Transit, Caltrain, and Muni—while ensuring accountability through independent oversight. AARP California urges Bay Area voters to protect the mobility, independence, and budgets of the region's older adults by supporting the Connect Bay Area Transit Measure this November.
About AARP California
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with 3.2 million members in California, dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP California advocates for the priorities that matter most to older Californians and their families, including affordable, reliable transportation and livable communities. To learn more, visit aarp.org/CA or follow @AARPCA.
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