Editorial: Marin’s transit agencies must prepare for new normal

The pandemic spurred a world of changes, some lasting.

That’s what the world of public transit is facing.

Public health orders in 2020 to practice “social distancing” as a way to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus sent ridership plummeting, either commuters were sidelined by shutdowns at places of employment or people stayed away from closed environments of buses and trains.

Ridership plunged. So did the revenue needed to help pay for keeping the services on the road, rails and on the bay.

Federal and state emergency funding helped keep them financially afloat and in service.

But ridership hasn’t rebounded and that life-preserver funding is fading.

In fact, Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is trying to fix the state’s budget deficit, has proposed a $2 billion cut in state funding in public transit across the state.

There’s a lot of negotiating that’s going to be happening in Sacramento before that sum is a real budget problem, but local transit operators need to brace their budgets for it becoming part of their new reality.

Public transit is vital to our area, both economically and environmentally.

The quandary facing agencies like Golden Gate Transit, Marin Transit and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is one of how they retain, if not attract, ridership if they reduce service.

Add to that another vexing question, when – or will – ridership numbers rebound after pandemic restrictions proved that many workers could perform their jobs via online connections rather than sitting together in an office?

Newsom’s proposal is a reflection of another reality; that the state can’t afford to continue to bail out these agencies while they are in limbo.

Whether lawmakers dip into the state’s reserves to help buy transit operators some time will be debated over the coming months.

Effective public transit, one that serves riders of all income levels, provides a convenient, reliable and affordable alternative to people driving their cars. Maintaining those three goals have to be paramount for transit providers.

They may be able to cut 1% here or 2% there, but when funding reductions reach double-digit percentage levels, those decisions are more difficult and painful in terms of the services these agencies strive to provide.

In some cases, big purchases or capital projects may have to be delayed or revamped.

One goal that remains clear is that they need to grow ridership.

That’s going to mean adjusting to changes in commute patterns, locally and regionally.

They may take some rethinking.

Time should provide some greater clarity in defining post-pandemic transit needs.

Newsom has sent a clear message that they need to change with the times. The need for public transit is clear, but what it is going to look like is evolving and service needs to address those changes.