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For the 9pm FIFA World Cup match on Tuesday, June 16, BART is offering fans special late-night service after midnight to get riders home. These late-night matches will put fans onto trains during a time BART is usually closed. 

BART is also offering this additional late-night service for the 8pm matches on Friday, June 19, and Monday, June 22. 

These special event trains will not stop at all BART stations. Fans who plan to park at BART should leave their cars at these key Easy Bay stations for the return trip: Bay Fair, Dublin, MacArthur, El Cerrito del Norte, and Pleasant Hill. Note: Powell St. Station in Downtown San Francisco will be served but does not have parking.

Bay Area transit agencies are coordinating efforts and scheduling to ensure a world-class transportation experience and to have service available for all fans regardless of when matches end. 

Unlike many rail systems around the country, BART will not be implementing surge pricing for FIFA. Riders will pay the regular fare. Use Tap and Ride to pay directly at the fare gate by tapping your credit/debit card or mobile payment. Each person needs their own phone/card. No transit card/ticket is required. 

BART is bolstering our staff and security presence and running longer trains. BART will also deploy extra lighting at key station parking lots to enhance safety for fans returning from evening matches. 

Find BART’s comprehensive guide to FIFA World Cup 2026 transportation, including directions for taking transit to fan zones, watch parties, and other events, at bart.gov/fifa  

Special limited-express, late-night service for 8pm (June 19 and 22) and 9pm (June 16) matches

The last scheduled BART train that stops at all stations systemwide leaves Milpitas at 11:53pm towards the East Bay and San Francisco. The last scheduled BART train to Berryessa Station is 1:47am.  

BART will add the following special event trains after midnight that will be timed with the last VTA trains coming from the stadium. There is not a timetable for these departure times because it depends on how long it takes to clear the stadium and get to BART on VTA. But overall, they will likely depart Milpitas every 30 minutes between 12:30am-1:40am.   

These special event trains WILL NOT STOP AT ALL BART STATIONS. The trains will only serve Bay Fair, Dublin, MacArthur, El Cerrito del Norte, Pleasant Hill and Powell St stations.   

People taking BART to the stadium and driving to park at BART must leave their cars at these key Easy Bay stations for the return trip: Bay Fair, Dublin, MacArthur, El Cerrito del Norte and Pleasant Hill. Note, Powell St Station in downtown San Francisco does not have parking.   

Specific service of the special limited-express trains:  

El Cerrito del Norte- and Dublin-Bound Trains  

Two limited-stop-express Orange Line trains for 8pm matches and three trains for 9pm matches will be bound for El Cerrito del Norte. They will leave Milpitas and will stop at Bay Fair, where riders can exit the station, and Dublin-bound riders can transfer to another train to Dublin. The train will then stop at MacArthur where riders can exit. And then the last stop is El Cerrito del Norte.  

Pleasant Hill- and Dublin-Bound Trains  

Two limited-stop-express Yellow Line trains for 8pm matches and three trains for 9pm matches will be bound for Pleasant Hill. They will leave Milpitas and will stop at Bay Fair, where riders can exit the station and Dublin-bound riders can transfer to another train to Dublin. The train will then stop at MacArthur where riders can exit. And then the last stop is Pleasant Hill.   

The above trains will run back-to-back. If you accidently board the wrong train, there will be chance at MacArthur Station to transfer to the other train for El Cerrito del Norte or Pleasant Hill. There will be signs and staff at Milpitas to help you board the right train.   

Express Trains to San Francisco (Primarily Powell St Station)  

BART will offer limited-stop-express trains from Milpitas into San Francisco for the 8pm and 9pm matches. Specifically:  

8pm matches (June 19 and 22)  

One special event train will depart Milpitas and run without stopping until Bay Fair (where riders can exit or transfer to a Dublin train), then run without stopping until Powell Street Station (the last stop). This train will depart Milpitas after the final VTA train connects riders to BART (this may be as late as 1:40am).  

9pm match (June 16)  

One Green Line train will depart Milpitas and run without stopping until Bay Fair (where riders can exit at Bay Fair or transfer to a Dublin train), then run without stopping until West Oakland where it will then make all stops between West Oakland and Daly City. This train will be in front of the final regularly scheduled Yellow Line train to Millbrae (this train does not stop at SFO). Anyone needing to reach stops between Daly City and Millbrae (except SFO) can transfer to that Millbrae train.     

A second and final special event train will depart Milpitas after the final VTA train connects riders to BART (this may be as late as 1:40am) and will run without stopping to Powell St Station.     

San Mateo County riders should take Caltrain home. 

Muni in San Francisco will be providing supplemental service after normal transit operating hours to ensure reliable transportation options for the late-night matches. The Muni special bus shuttle service will circulate between Union Square, SoMA, BART and Caltrain.  

BART Resources  

System Map  

Trip Planner  

Real Time Departures from each station  

Tap and Ride contactless payment 

Download the BART Watch App  

Text BART Police to report concerns at 510-200-0992 

Click here to sign up for the One Book One BART mailing list. 

>>> Fine art-quality giclee prints of the poster paintings are now available on Railgoods.com. Purchase these beautiful 11" by 14" artworks here. Limited quantities available.  <<<

Three original watercolor paintings by celebrated poet-artist-naturalist Obi Kaufmann are now enlivening BART stations by taking over ad spaces across the system. The artworks are being released in tandem with the launch of the spring 2025 One Book One BART book club. The club’s official selection is Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide by Jeff Miller, which was illustrated by Kaufmann.  

The unveiling of Kaufmann’s artworks marks the relaunch of BART’s Poster Art Program. The goal of the program, which has featured original works by Miwako Nishizawa, Monico Chavez, Josh Ellingson, and Owen Smith, is to enhance the physical environment of BART stations and celebrate the wealth of artistic talent in the Bay Area. The program is a joint effort between BART Communications, BART Marketing, and the BART Art Program.  

Kaufmann’s original paintings feature some of the local species found in the natural and urban spaces accessible by transit, including San Francisco, Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, and Mount Diablo. Each panel is themed around a different group of wildlife: “Big, beautiful birds of the Bay Area,” “Our wildlife neighbors of the Bay Area,” and “Endangered species of the Bay Area.” 

“Transportation agencies throughout the United States and internationally have seen the importance to community and customers in bringing art and culture into transit spaces,” said BART Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost. "Bringing art to our system also builds a sense of safety and belonging, as we have repeatedly heard from our Not One More Girl initiative outreach."

“Artworks enhance the travel experience with education, joy, information about, and celebration of a particular location and its unique characteristics," added BART Art Program Manager Jennifer Easton. "Obi’s artwork demonstrates his deep appreciation and passion for our neighbors in the wild, reminding us that reducing our environmental impact by using transit can help preserve their critical environments.” 

On Saturday, May 3, from noon to approx. 1pm, Kaufmann will partner with BART to lead a first-of-its-kind BART Train Expedition. The free, family-friendly ride on an in-service passenger train will take us on a journey through the East Bay’s mosaicked, ecological landscape – all through the windows of a Yellow Line train. During the ride, Kaufmann will transport us through “deep time” as he tells stories about the area’s ecosystems, water, fire, infrastructure, volcanic history, trees, and more. RSVP here and scroll down to learn about other upcoming One Book One BART events. 

Kaufmann’s original BART paintings will be available for purchase as 11x14 art prints, coming soon to BART’s merchandise store Railgoods. Railgoods will also sell unique “Animals by BART” t-shirts featuring the fauna displayed in Kaufmann’s paintings. Sign up for the mailing list at the link above and follow BART on social media to be alerted to the release of the prints and t-shirts. 

Oakland-based Kaufmann is known for his illustrated books on ecology and geography, including the award-winning California Field Atlas and his latest, The State of Fire: Why California Burns. Kaufmann brings his signature style – soft watercolor illustrations and handwritten titles that mimic field guides of yore – to the paintings he created for BART.  

"Growing up in the Bay Area as a young naturalist, I relied on BART to get me to the parks, open spaces, and wild landscapes that inspired me to become the writer and artist I am today,” Kaufmann said. “So many decades later, I am happy to report that those same places are accessible, and teaming up with BART to celebrate the Bay Area's rich wildlife legacy is a dream come true."  

In addition to celebrating ecology, Kaufmann’s works are an urgent reminder that the Bay Area is home to many at-risk wildlife populations. Sustainability is one of BART’s core values, and it has been since our system was founded. As highlighted in our Transit Saves campaign, if it weren’t for BART, we’d have to plant a forest the size of San Francisco every two years to offset the CO2 that would be generated from increased vehicle emissions. The people of the Bay Area need BART, and so do the plants and animals that reside here.  

“We want people to think of our stations not solely as liminal spaces to mindlessly pass through, but places where you can experience art, culture, and even a sense wonder,” said BART Principal Marketing Representative Michelle Robertson, who spearheaded the relaunch Poster Art Program project. “Some of my fondest transit memories involve riding BART to regional green spaces, and I’m grateful to Obi for giving all of us a reason to celebrate transit and the wealth of experiences it takes us to." 

The artworks also serve as inspiration and encouragement for people to use public transit to get outside! To get going on your next outdoor adventure, visit bartable.bart.gov/outdoors and discover a wealth of hikes, bike rides, and outdoor itineraries by BART stations.  

One Book One BART returns with a natural history theme 

In keeping with the natural history theme, BART is excited to announce the return of One Book One BART. The club is a novel strategy for rider and employee engagement that invites members of the public to read the same book at the same time and participate in themed events in BART trains and stations. This will be the third iteration of One Book One BART, which began in 2022 with Hua Hsu’s Stay True.  

This year’s selection is Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide (Heyday Books) by conservationist Jeff Miller, with illustrations by Obi Kaufmann. Bay Area Wildlife takes an educational and highly entertaining approach to the region’s local fauna, “revealing why each of these creatures matters, as well as the threats that loom over our region’s incredible biodiversity.” 

The book will serve as a jumping off point for a series of outdoor excursions by BART stations and on trains. Stay up to date by visiting bart.gov/bookclub and signing up for the email list at the top of the page. 

One Book One BART events 

All events are free to attend, but an RSVP is required. 

Guided Nature Walk with Author Jeff Miller and Pals 

When: Saturday, April 19 

• The first walk will leave the station at 9am. The walk from 19th to the Rotary Center will take approx. 45 - 60 minutes. RSVP for the first walk (9am) on Eventbrite here

• The second walk will leave the station at 11am. The walk from 19th St. to the Rotary Center will take approx. 45 - 60 minutes. RSVP for the second walk (11am) on Eventbrite here 

Where: 19th St/Oakland Station to the Rotary Nature Center 

Itinerary subject to change. 

Meet Bay Area Wildlife author Jeff Miller as he and some conservationist colleagues and local naturalists take us on a ~1.4-mile guided nature walk of Lake Merritt that will begin at 19th St. Station in Downtown Oakland.  

Expect to see lots of water birds and an assortment of herons and egrets, maybe even some fish! The walk will end in the grassy area adjacent to the Rotary Nature Center on the lake, where participants will have the opportunity to rendezvous with and learn from local environmental organizations.

Wear comfy walking shoes, fill up your water bottle, and bring whatever else you may need for the walk. And don’t forget your copy of Bay Area Wildlife – Jeff will be signing books.  

Bike Ride and Birdwatching 

When: Saturday, April 26

• Early short ride - Departs North Berkeley Station at 7:45am. The ride is approx. 8 miles roundtrip and will end at North Berkeley Station at approx. 9:45am. RSVP for the 7:45am short ride on Eventbrite.
• Long late ride - Departs North Berkeley Station at 10am. The ride is approx. 15 miles roundtrip and will end back at North Berkeley at approx. 1pm. RSVP for the 10am long ride on Eventbrite

Where: North Berkeley Station 

Itinerary subject to change. 

Heath Maddox, BART Manager of Bicycle and Micromobility Access Programs, and local birdwatchers will host two bike rides -- a shorter one for early birds and a later one for those looking for a long ride -- with birdwatching stops along the way. The ride will start and end at North Berkeley Station.

In addition to the expertise of local birdwatchers, we’ll have a digital guide featuring info on birds we might spot on the ride. Find the short 7:45am route here and the long 10am route here.

Bring your bike, helmet, and binoculars – we’ll have extras on hand to lend. You should also bring anything you need to be self-sufficient and keep your bike rolling (spare tube, patch kit, pump, etc.). If you do not have a bike, you can rent one from the Bay Wheels hub at North Berkeley Station.

BART Train Expedition with Obi Kaufmann 

When: Saturday, May 3, noon to approx. 1pm 

Where: Pleasant Hill/City Centre Station to 12th St/Oakland Station 

RSVP on Eventbrite

"Bay Area Wildlife" illustrator and acclaimed poet-naturalist Obi Kaufmann takes the public on a first-of-its-kind BART Train Expedition! The free, family-friendly ride on an in-service passenger train will take us on a journey through the East Bay’s mosaicked, ecological landscape – all through the windows of a Yellow Line train. During the ride, Kaufmann will transport us through “deep time” as he tells stories about the area’s ecosystems, water, fire, infrastructure, volcanic history, trees, and more.  

At the end of the approx. 30-minute ride, we’ll disembark at 12th St./Oakland Station and walk with Obi to Frank Ogawa Plaza, where we’ll pay homage to the Town’s most famous oak tree.  

About Obi Kaufmann

For poet, painter, and naturalist Obi Kaufmann, California is a magic network of living systems connecting ecology and beauty in a grand quilt, holding enough science, mythology, and language for a hundred field atlases to come. Obi Kaufmann regularly travels around the state, presenting his work and vision as keynote addresses to such groups as the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildland Center, Pacific Forest Trust, the Mojave Desert Land Trust, the Mechanics Institute of San Francisco, the Anza Borrego Foundation, the Mono Lake Committee, the University of California at Berkeley Botanical Garden, the University of California at Davis Plant Sciences Department, the University of California Santa Barbara Department of Water Sciences, the Peninsula Open Space Trust, the California Native Plant Society, the Wilderness Society, and the Audubon Society. Obi had a 2022 residency with the National Wildlife Federation as the illustrator for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. One year later, in 2023, he was the artist in residence for the National Park Service at the Whiskeytown NRA. Obi’s essays and paintings have been published in Dark Mountain Literary Journal, Zyzzyva Literary Journal, Bay Nature Magazine, Western Art & Architecture, Sunset Magazine, Juxtapoz Magazine, and On the Range Magazine. His 2023 essay "The Mind of the Redwood Forest" won an honorable mention as one of the best essays in the country, as awarded by the Norton Books Anthology. Obi regularly posts his work on Instagram as @coyotethunder. He is published by HEYDAY and represented by WILDBOUNDPR. Tune into to his podcast, PLACE AND PURPOSE, with cohost Greg Sarris. 

The call for artists is now closed.

BART is seeking artists to sell their work at BART’s upcoming anime festival, Let’s Glow! The festival will be held at Warm Springs/South Fremont Station on Saturday, September 6, from 4:30pm to 8pm.  

We are looking for 15 to 20 artists of all skills, styles, and mediums to table at this first-of-its-kind celebration of BART, art, and anime. Tabling is free! 

Artists must apply to sell at the event, and BART’s anime team will select the roster of vendors from the applicant pool. While art need not feature transit, strong preference will be given to work that does. We encourage artists to make BART-themed artwork to sell, but we ask that the fan art does not contain the BART logo to distinguish it from official communications. Art must be appropriate for an all-ages audience.  

Some examples of the type of work we’re looking for: 

• A print, postcard, or bookmark depicting a BART station in the artist’s preferred style
• T-shirts, tote bags, keychains featuring a train operator character
• A download code to an album of train departure melodies  

Surprise us! We are looking for originality and creativity.  

Submit your work at https://bart-anime.notion.site/216b53326cb280dd8549e02d7d3d615e  

Deadline: Sunday, August 17, 2025, 11:59pm  

More on Let’s Glow! 

This is a first-of-its-kind celebration of BART, art, and anime that will feature food and boba stands, lantern decoration, live DJ group AniClover, wotagei lessons from SanFlare, itasha decorated cars, and more. We will release additional details soon. This is a free, un-ticketed event. 

Let us know you're coming - RSVP here: https://bartletsglow.eventbrite.com 

Read about the BART Anime Project at bart.gov/anime 

On Thursday, Feb. 26, the BART Board of Directors initially approved an Alternative Service Plan outlining specific budget balancing details to solve a $376M deficit for the next fiscal year if no new funds become available to BART. BART is facing a structural deficit of $350M to $400M because ridership is still down 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels and BART’s current funding model relies heavily on passenger fares. 

The plan includes specific cuts and financial strategies needed to balance both the FY27 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and FY28 (July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028) budgets. The plan includes service cuts, station closures, fare increases, a 40% reduction in system support services, laying off 1,200 employees, and a series of deferrals and one-time resources. The plan does not name specific stations to be closed and makes clear the BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station closures. You can read the Alternative Service Plan resolution, resolution attachment, and presentation to the BART Board.

BART has already made budget cuts across all departments and instituted a series of cost controls, including rightsizing service, labor savings, operational efficiencies, and reducing BART’s office space footprint. At the same time, BART has also worked to increase revenue by installing new fare gates, leasing out BART parking lots, and offering new fare products such as Clipper BayPass. View a detailed list of cost savings implement by BART at bart.gov/fiscalcliff. 

Alternative Service Plan Details 

To take place in January 2027: 

• 3-line service (Yellow, Blue, and Orange line service only, with limited peak service in only the peak commute direction on the Red and Green lines). 
• 30-minute frequencies on every line.  
• Closing at 9pm seven days a week.  
• This service plan represents a 63% reduction in train hours. 
• 30% fare and parking fee increases (the estimated average fare would increase from $4.98 to $6.38). 
• Target approximately $30M in savings over 6 months from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions. 
• Continue deferrals of priority capital allocations and retiree medical contributions. 
• Balance remainder of FY27 with one-time resources and financial deferrals. 

Following the January 2027 cuts, staff will continuously assess ridership and revenue impacts and the performance of all District functions to determine if further reductions can be safely and legally implemented. 

To take place in July 2027 if feasibly safe: 

• Target over $175M in annual cost reductions through a cumulative 70% reduction in service hours: 
• Maintain 3-line service, 30-minute frequencies on each line, closing at 9pm. 
• Close up to 15 stations and/or up to 25% of system track miles. 
• The BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station or line segment closures. 
• Increase fares and parking fees up to a cumulative 50%. The estimated average fare would increase to $7.26. 
• Target annual operating expense savings of more than a cumulative $130M from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions. 
• Continue to defer retiree health contributions; defer most remaining capital allocations. 

Contingency: 

• If at any point it is determined BART can’t safely or legally operate with available resources, stop passenger service, 
• Use existing District tax revenues to secure system assets. 
• Work to determine system’s future. 

Use of the State Loan  

BART can’t use state loan money to avoid station closures and service cuts if no new revenue becomes available because without new revenue, there is no way to pay the loan back. The state loan primarily helps with cash flow if a November 2026 transit funding measure is successful. It is a bridge loan that gives BART reassurances money will be available to continue to deliver the best service possible until the sales tax dollars from the successful ballot measure become available for BART’s use. This is projected to happen in July 2027 but could take longer. If a funding measure succeeds, BART will use $97M in loan funds to help balance the FY27 budget.  

Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 – It was yet another high ridership weekend on Saturday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 6, as Outside Lands Music Festival, the Pistahan Parade and Festival, and other exciting events unfurled across the Bay Area. Saturday and Sunday saw 101,100 and 79,300 exits respectively meaning more than 180,000 people rode BART last weekend (that’s roughly the populations of Berkeley, Benicia, and El Cerrito combined).  

Looking for something to do this weekend? Keep reading and visit our BARTable website. We publish a weekly event roundup, BARTable This Weekend, which highlights happenings around the region as well as contests and sweepstakes.  

This weekend, BART will be running extra trains for these big events: the Star Wars Drone Show following the A’s game on Saturday, and the Zach Bryan concert at the Oakland Arena on Monday.  

Fri/Sat/Sun: Athletics vs. Orioles at the Oakland Coliseum (plus a Star Wars Drone Show!) 

The Oakland Athletics face the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – and each game offers a special themed promotion. For the Star Wars Drone Show on Saturday night, BART will be running extra trains to accommodate the anticipated crowds.  

Here’s the lowdown on this weekend’s games: Friday, Aug. 18 (6:40pm start time) is Jerry Garcia Night, a tribute to the legendary Bay Area musician. Saturday, Aug. 19 (6:07pm start time) is the Star Wars Drone Show (with a special Mark Kotsay Mandalorian Bobblehead on offer). And Sunday, Aug. 20 (1:07pm start time), will see a “t-shirt hoodie” giveaway for early arriving fans, presented by Cal State East Bay. 

It’s also First Responders Weekend at the Coliseum, with special prices, tailgates, jerseys, and more for first responders. (Promo info here.) 

Use our guide to taking BART to the game here. 

Sat/Sun: Take BART to the FOG India Day Parade and Fair in Fremont 

On Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20, the City of Fremont will host the largest India Day parade on the West Coast with more than 130 booths and 50,000 attendees. To get there, take BART to Fremont Station and travel about 0.6 miles to the event site – 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont.  

The fair takes over the parkway on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and the parade runs Sunday from 11am to 1pm. Bollywood superstar Mahima Chaudhry will serve as the grand marshal. Keep your eyes out for the BART booth, where BART directors, staff, and officers will be on hand with free swag and information about the system and our programs. More info here. 

Mon: Singer-Songwriter Zach Bryan at the Oakland Arena on Monday  

Singer-songwriter Zach Bryan touches down in Oakland this Monday, Aug. 21, for a stop on his Burn, Burn, Burn tour at the Oakland Arena (take BART to Coliseum Station) with Trampled by Turtles and Levi Turner. The show starts at 8pm and doors open at 6:30pm.  

BART will be running extra trains Monday night to take concertgoers home. 

Explore BARTable Pools, Coves, and Lagoons 

Did you know you can take BART to swim? Cool off this weekend by visiting a BARTable swimming hole. We rounded them up (with directions) in this article.  

Win Tickets to the “Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical” World Premiere  

Win two tickets for you and your guest to the world premiere of "Hippest Trip -The Soul Train Musical" at A.C.T.'s Toni Rembe Theater in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8pm. Five lucky winners will take the prize! Learn more about the Broadway-bound musical and enter the sweepstakes by clicking here.  

Weekend Read: The Couple Who Hosted a BART Wedding at Fairyland 

On May 27, 2023, Armin Samii and Marylee Williams married in a BART-themed wedding at Oakland’s Fairyland.  

The couple, who met on BART, said, “We wanted a venue that was easily accessible to our guests, and accessibility to us looks like BART. BART was where we had our first taste of not being bound by a car.”   

Read more about the wedding and see the colorful photos on bart.gov/news.  

Happy Riding this Weekend! 

We hope you enjoy your weekend adventures aboard our trains.    
 
Stay in touch by signing up for the BARTable This Week newsletter on the BARTable website – your one-stop shop for all things accessible by BART. You can also keep up with BARTable on Facebook and  Instagram. 

The BART Board of Directors has adopted a balanced FY27 budget ($1.2B Operating and $828M Capital) for what will be a defining year in its history of providing safe and reliable transit service to the Bay Area. The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375M, and a regional transit funding measure will potentially be on the November ballot.

The BART Board has planned for two financial scenarios, one in which new revenue becomes available, and one in which no new funds are provided to BART in FY27. For the latter, the board has initially approved an Alternative Service Plan detailing service cuts, fare increases, and layoffs to close the $375M deficit.

Preventing service cuts through new revenue, cuts, deferrals, and borrowing

The budget adopted today assumes the transit funding measure is approved and will provide $74M in new revenue to BART during the fiscal year. Even with new sales tax proceeds from an approved funding measure, BART still needed to solve for an additional $302M to close the FY27 budget in a way that would not impact riders or cut service.

The budget makes $18.2M in ongoing cuts with $7.3M from ongoing department reductions and efficiencies and eliminating 63 operating full-time positions, saving $11M in labor costs.

“This is a leaner budget with less spending and a smaller headcount,” said BART Board President Melissa Hernandez. “The board challenged staff to find efficiencies and reduce costs in a way that would not be experienced by the riders and would not negatively impact the improvements we have made resulting in the highest reliability and satisfaction rates in years.”

The FY27 budget relies on $88.5M in borrowing to prevent service cuts and bridge the funding gap until proceeds from the revenue measure become available to BART.

Ridership growth coupled with cuts, efficiencies, and better investment returns due to cash management from BART’s new Office of the Chief Financial Officer structure have generated nearly $25M in additional revenue. In addition, BART anticipates stretching $52M in state emergency funds into FY27. Emergency funds were originally expected to be depleted before July 2026.  This has reduced the level of borrowing and deferrals needed to close the FY27 budget by $78M, helping reduce long-term costs to BART.

BART’s financial crisis was created because BART’s financial model has historically relied heavily on fare dollars to pay for operations and riders are now taking fewer trips each week because of remote work.

Ridership reaches new post-pandemic milestone  

While the number of trips served each year remains at about half of what it was pre-pandemic, ridership projections included in the budget mark the first time since the pandemic the average weekday ridership estimate will be more than 200,000 trips.  It was originally projected to be 191,000 trips, but FY26 had more than a 12% growth in ridership, fueled by higher customer satisfaction, a declining crime rate, strong weekend ridership recovery, and improved on-time performance.  

No fare increases and all discounts maintained

The budget does not include a fare increase during FY27 and maintains discounts for seniors, youth, low-income people, and people with disabilities. The budget assumes $2.5M in additional revenue from demand-based parking increases and more people parking as ridership ticks up.

Budget funds current service levels with improvements

Assuming the funding measure is successful, BART will continue to operate current service levels with a schedule change on August 10, 2026, with targeted improvements that will enhance reliability and reduce wait times for some riders. By making a change in how trains travel through Daly City Station and operating it as a center platform station, service will be improved throughout the system with improved headways, transfers, and less train congestion.

Trains will be more evenly spaced apart for Richmond-bound riders. Yellow Line and Red Line trains will be spaced 10 minutes apart instead of 5 and 15 minutes today. Dublin- and Berryessa-bound riders will also have better spacing between trains, from 3 and 17 minutes today to 8 and 12 minutes. There will be a new cross-platform transfer at Bay Fair for Dublin (Blue Line) to Berryessa (Orange Line) riders and the reverse trip. And riders coming from Antioch (Yellow Line) transferring toward Richmond (Orange or Red Line) will save 17 minutes with a new four-minute transfer.      

Capital budget funds infrastructure investments

BART’s $828M Capital Budget reflects its continued commitment to reinvest in core infrastructure to improve safety and reliability of service. Major projects include a new Communications Based Train Control system, traction power upgrades, elevator modernization, escalator replacement, and a highly prioritized computer network modernization project intended to prevent major service disruptions caused by outdated equipment.  FY27 marks a major shift into construction for a large majority of funded projects that have completed planning, design, and procurement of materials.  In FY27 BART will replace key track equipment near Fremont and Oakland and will complete construction of a modernized Operations Control Center.

These projects are funded by voter-approved Measure RR and other local, regional, state, and federal grant sources, in addition to reduced allocations from BART’s Operating Budget, which leverage the outside funding needed to fully fund these essential projects. 

BART commits to financial efficiency action items

Along with approving a new budget, the BART Board also voted to adopt a series of recommended early action strategies meant to enhance revenue and reduce costs. The action items are the result of an independent Bay Area Financial Efficiency Review commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) of BART, AC Transit, Caltrain, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SF Muni). The third-party review was called for by Senate Bill 63, which authorized a regional transportation sales tax to be placed on the November 2026 ballot.

The action items approved by the BART Board include:

• Improve fare compliance by further optimizing BART’s new fare gates and continuing with BART’s station hardening program
• Enhance parking revenue
• Lease fiber and communications assets
• Expand Clipper BayPass with more institutions and employers
• Improve speed and reliability of service through schedule changes, such as the planned improvements in August 2026
• Run shorter trains during lower-demand periods
• Examine contracts for opportunities to reduce costs, such as exploring changes to BART’s lease payments to SFO
• Study the benefits, challenges and opportunities to expand retail amenity partnerships

The Financial Efficiency Review found that between 2019 and 2025, BART reduced operating costs by more than $516M through service reductions, workforce controls, and operational efficiencies. The four Bay Area transit agencies that are part of the review saved more than $1B combined over the six-year period reviewed by the MTC.

BART ridership continues to grow, with notable gains on weekends as Saturday ridership this September was nearly 20% higher compared to the previous year. More than 5 million trips were taken on BART in September, exceeding expected trips by 5%. Overall, ridership saw a nearly 10% increase over the same month last year.  

The increase in ridership on the weekends, especially Saturdays, demonstrates that people are taking BART for purposes beyond getting to the office. For example, the Japan v. Mexico soccer match on Saturday, September 6, drew 23,000 trips to Coliseum Station, the third-highest ridership day for the station since the pandemic. In fact, ridership for the match was nearly a third higher than the average Saturday ridership for A’s games in 2019.  

Ridership growth is only part of the solution to BART’s significant financial crisis. To close BART’s $375 million deficit with only fare revenue, current ridership levels would need to more than double; BART’s latest budget forecast estimates a 4% ridership increase in 2026. 

BART’s slow and steady ridership recovery correlates with work from home rates in the region. While individual riders are returning to BART, they’re taking fewer trips, likely due to remote and hybrid work schedules. 

September ridership highlights at a glance:  

• September ridership was 10% higher compared to previous year (5,047,000 total trips).
• Saturdays in September of this year grew 20% over a year ago.
• Highest ridership day: Wednesday, September 10 (220,073).
• BayPass, the region’s all-in-one transit pass, ridership more than doubled over last September, driven primarily by UC Berkeley students voting to expand the program to the entire study body of ~45,000. The BayPass referendum was approved with 90% "yes" votes. Ridership growth at Downtown Berkeley Station has outpaced systemwide growth since the start of the Fall 2025 semester.  
• Tap and Ride usage accounted for approx. 8% of total trips on weekdays and 12% on weekends. SFO Station accounts for nearly 30% of all Tap and Ride trips. Tap and Ride gives riders the ability to pay adult fares at BART fare gates using physical contactless credit or debit cards or mobile payment methods, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.  
• Usage of Clipper START, the region’s low-income discount fare program, is at an all-time high and accounted for 3.4% of total trips in September. BART has more Clipper START rides than any other agency. 

Additional ridership information is publicly available and posted monthly at bart.gov/about/reports/ridership. 

BART ridership continued its steady upward trend in November, with double digit growth at most stations and overall ridership increasing 11.6% compared to the previous year.  

In total, riders took more than 4.4 million trips in November, many taking advantage of new fare programs and innovations, such as Tap and Ride and Clipper BayPass.  

‘Tis the season to take BART to the airport. Ridership to SFO and OAK around Thanksgiving grew 12% over last year. 

Riders are also increasingly using BART on the weekends. In November, Saturday ridership increased by 19% and Sunday ridership by 16% over last year. These gains come as ridership dipped modestly from October, a pattern consistent with seasonal shifts and variations in weekday and weekend travel.  

Ridership growth reflects changing commuter trends, increased use of weekend and off-peak service, growing adoption of new fare programs, and an improved customer experience at BART. And on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission released Next Generation Clipper, a new-and-improved fare payment system that makes paying for BART and other Clipper agencies faster and more convenient.  

Many stations experienced robust increases in average weekday exits compared with last year this November. Some examples: 

• Downtown Berkeley saw ridership rise nearly 20%
• 19th St/Oakland and 12th St/Oakland City Center ridership increased by more than 20%
• West Oakland and Embarcadero also posted notable gains of 24% and 17% respectively 

Riders also continue to embrace flexible and discounted fare options: 

• 11% of total trips in November used Tap and Ride, which lets you pay adult fares directly at the fare gates with a contactless debit or credit card or Apple Pay and Google Pay. BART became the first Tap and Ride agency in August; MTC rolled out the program to other Clipper agencies on December 10 with the launch of Next Generation Clipper. 
• Clipper BayPass usage jumped 173% compared to the same month last year.
• Discount programs such as Clipper START also saw gains. Usage of the discount fare program increased by 37% compared to a year ago. 

BART’s budget crisis 

Despite encouraging ridership gains, BART continues to face a $375 million budget deficit. To close that gap solely with fare revenue, current ridership would need to more than double. BART’s most recent budget forecast projects a 4% ridership increase in 2026.  

BART’s gradual recovery is closely tied to work-from-home trends in the region. While more riders are returning to the system, they are generally taking fewer trips due to remote and hybrid work schedules.  

Additional ridership information is publicly available and posted monthly at bart.gov/about/reports/ridership.   

Sound Tracks, BART’s free summer concert series, returns for three shows in August and September.  The outdoor series, presented by the BART Art Program, is part of BART’s rider engagement strategy to activate stations, show appreciation for riders and neighbors, and support local artists – all for the love of music. 

Performances will be held in the unpaid areas of stations, and attendees are encouraged to take BART. Dance bands have been so successful at past events that for this series, we’re bringing out musicians that know how to get a crowd on their feet. 

Said Jennifer Easton, BART Art Program Manager: “The BART Art Program centers supporting local artists and delivering arts and cultural programming to enhance rider and community experience. Sound Tracks encourages riders to take a minute to celebrate with station neighbors, support local businesses, and enables BART to show our appreciation for all the people who ride the system and to those that make the station areas vibrant.”  

Up next on the schedule:

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Wednesday, Sept. 4, 5 pm to 630pm, Balboa Park: Kiazi Malonga (Congolese drummer performing with full percussion band) 

Previously:

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Wednesday, August 21, 5pm to 630pm, El Cerrito del Norte Station: Patron Latin Rhythms (Latin jazz, Latin rock, Mambo). Special reading by winners of the BART Lines Teen Poetry Contest.  

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Wednesday, Aug. 28, 5pm to 630pm, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre: Chris Trinidad y Con Todo featuring Mestiza (Cuban Timba, Puerto Rican Bomba, and Afro-Caribbean genres mixed with Latin jazz, soul, and R&B)  

It's the most BARTable time of the year! 

Celebrate our third year of the immensely popular BART holiday sweater at SweaterFest '23! Wear your BART holiday sweater from any year and join BART staff and fellow riders for a group photo at Rockridge Station on Sunday, December 10 from 2-3:30pm.

For riders who did not pre-order the 2023 BART holiday staff but would like to purchase one, staff will be selling the 2023 holiday sweater at SweaterFest '23. We will have contests, prizes, other BART merch for sale, music, and more to make it a true holiday event! Winners of our SweaterFest '23 Raffle can win exclusive BART prizes. (Raffle contestants must be present to win prizes)

Extra 2023 BART holiday sweaters will go on sale at railgoods.com after Thanksgiving. 

For pre-orders who selected the pick-up option, your holiday sweater is available for pick-up at BART HQ, 2150 Webster Street in Oakland (walkable distance from 19th St Oakland Station) on weekdays from November 22 until December 7. The hours for pick-up are between 8:30am until 4pm. November 23 and November 24 will not be open due to Thanksgiving. 

Starting December 11, pre-order pick-ups will be moved to the Customer Services Center at Lake Merritt Station on the concourse level.

Don’t be left out in the cold…grab your sweater and join us for a family-friendly, holiday-celebrating SweaterFest ’23!

We plan to introduce our new stamp rally passport at SweaterFest. If you attend the Meet the Anime Mascots event at Powell Street, be sure to bring your stamp from that event and we will add it to our passport.