The Regional Transportation Measure would add 0.5% to Alameda County’s sales tax to support BART, AC Transit, and other public transportation agencies. During an affordability crisis, we are generally wary of regressive sales tax increases because they disproportionately burden lower-income individuals and households. We support this measure, however, because reliable public transportation is itself essential to affordability— particularly for lower-income residents and the many people who do not own or cannot operate a motor vehicle.