On Thursday, BART laid out recommendations the agency could consider if it can’t get additional funding to cover the deficit.
Tough measures discussed at the board meeting included station closures, reduced train services and job cuts.
The agency faces an annual deficit of nearly $400 million as ridership continues to decline since the COVID-19 pandemic and the trend toward remote work.
The agency presented a worst-case scenario.
The first phase will see the closure of 10 stations with the lowest ridership in January 2027.
In the second phase in July 2027, up to 15 stations may close and fares rise by 50%.
In phase three, train services will stop altogether.
“These are predictions,” said Victor Flores, BART District 7 board director. “It all depends on whether we can find additional sustainable revenue streams. We just want to make sure that if that doesn’t happen, we’re fully prepared.”
“I think it’s important to remember that these are not hyperbolic scenarios,” said Laura Tolkoff, transportation policy director for SPUR, a coalition working to put regional transportation measures on the ballot in November. “If BART cannot safely operate the system, they are very real.”
More: BART partners with Uber to offer discounted rides to and from select Bay Area stations
Ballot measures connecting the Bay Area would be a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and a 1-cent sales tax in San Francisco County to help fund BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit.
If service is drastically cut, BART will be set back 50 years.
The board is expected to vote on the proposal as early as February 26.
If you are using the ABC7 News app, click here to watch the live broadcast
