BART wants to hear from you on budget issues

BART has long had a fare increase program in place to raise fares every other year in predictable small increments based on inflation.  In 2013, the board voted to dedicate all the revenue from the increases through 2020 to our three most crucial capital projects- new train cars, a new train control system, and a modern maintenance facility. Together, these projects will increase capacity and reliability. The money from the fare increases cannot be used for salaries, benefits, or operating the system.

The next scheduled fare increase will be 2.7%, starting January 2018.  

BART is also studying several other possible fare change options to help address next fiscal year’s projected operating budget shortfall.  This shortfall is a result of fewer weekend and off-peak riders and a drop in the sales tax revenue we rely on to balance the budget.  The 2018 scheduled fare increase does not help close the operating deficit because the money is dedicated to high priority capital projects. Nor can the bond money approved in Measure RR be used for the operating budget.  Bond money can only be used on capital projects and improvements like replacing 90 miles of worn track and power cables and modernizing infrastructure and systems that have reached the end of their useful life.   

BART has already taken a number of steps to address the shortfall including significantly cutting back on overtime, freezing most vacant positions that do not impact safety, and allowing for more revenue generating advertising.  However, we need to consider additional revenue generating strategies.  The Board of Directors directed staff to survey the following options:

• A paper ticket surcharge of up to either 50 cents or 10% per trip. This will help encourage riders to use Clipper and could raise $7-11 million annually.
• Reduce the 62.5% discount for seniors, people with disabilities, and youth to 50% which matches the discount other Bay Area transit systems provide. This could raise $3.3 million annually.
• Increase the maximum daily parking fee from $3 to $5 depending on demand raising $12-$16 million annually.

Click here for examples of current fares and what they would be under each fare option.

In addition to these options, BART will be looking at all cost saving ideas internally that will not financially impact our riders such as improving efficiencies that result in savings and headcount reductions.  

BART invites you to come to the following in-station events to fill out a survey on the inflation-based fare increase and other budget options:

GIVE FEEDBACK ONLINE

If you can't make an in-station event, you can take an online survey. 

In English

En Español

在中文

GIVE FEEDBACK BY EMAIL OR PAPER MAIL

BART Fare Increase & Options
300 Lakeside Drive, 16th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Email comments or surveys to: [email protected]

You can print these PDFs of the survey to send by paper mail, or scan and return by email: 

In English

En Español

在中文