Backers of a $100-billion transportation funding “megameasure” for the San Francisco Bay area have suspended efforts to put the proposal before voters this November. It is one example of the increasing vulnerability of infrastructure ballot initiatives to economic uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 outbreak.
A statement issued March 18 by Faster Bay Area, a coalition of local business, government and planning groups, noted that placing the 1-cent sales tax increase on the ballot in nine counties was already a tall order, given the need to secure approval from state legislators and Governor Gavin Newsom (D) no later than June 24.