The Caltrain sales tax measure seems to be on track to pass.
The news comes as a major relief for those who warned the rail service would have soon been forced to close without the new tax.
With ridership down sharply due to the coronavirus pandemic, Caltrain was facing a dire fiscal future. But San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine seems to be breathing a little bit easier now that the returns for Measure RR have started to come in.
"The results in the three counties are convincingly in favor of Measure RR, so I am very confident," Pine told KCBS Radio.
The 1/8-cent sales tax for San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties will avert a shutdown for Caltrain in the short term. In the long term, it will provide new dedicated funding for decades to come.
"We’ve seen tonight that the voters and taxpayers of San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara appreciate the value that Caltrain brings," Pine added.
Opponents of the measure had questioned the wisdom of imposing a new tax during a recession.
