BART budget calls for fare hike
April 8, 2009
 |
| Alternate approach: One BART board member is opposed to a 10 percent fare hike. Director James Fang would instead like to see the SFO price increase. He calls the current cost “by any stretch of the imagination a bargain.” (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — BART riders will likely pay an additional 12 to 71 cents per ticket as early as this summer, the cash-strapped transit agency told The Examiner on Tuesday.
The fare increases would likely come at the same time train service is cut, according to BART.
The transit agency is grappling with a $54 million deficit for the fiscal year that starts July 1, and is set to introduce a preliminary budget at its board meeting Thursday that includes fare hikes of 10 percent, spokesman Linton Johnson said. The changes would help BART shave off $30 million from the projected deficit.
On top of paying more, riders can expect to wait longer for trains on weeknights and weekends this summer under the proposal, according to Johnson.
In January 2008, trains began running every 15 minutes after 7 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and all day Sunday. The new budget has BART returning trains to 20-minute intervals during those times, Johnson said. BART would also trim evening service at the Colma, South San Francisco and San Bruno stations to one line, he said.
To shore up the budget deficit, the transit agency will also propose eliminating positions at BART. The budget would cut 100 positions, 85 of which are currently vacant.
“The rest is going to have to come from BART employees somehow,” Johnson said, noting that the transit agency is currently in labor negotiations.
BART employees, including himself and management, have some of the best benefits in the nation and need to make concessions for the sake of the transit agency, Johnson said.
Labor costs represent 73 percent of BART’s operating budget, one-third of which accounts for benefits, he said.
“The riders are giving up some money and we’ve got to give up some money,” Johnson said.
The various proposals will face public review and the vote of BART’s board before they can pass. Board rules say the preliminary budget must be adopted by June 30.
Preliminary budgets typically pass, albeit sometimes with some revisions, Johnson said.
However, BART Director James Fang said he opposes a 10 percent fare hike.
Fang plans to pitch an alternative fare plan that would significantly increase the cost to and from San Francisco International Airport. A 6 percent hike in January, already scheduled several years ago, would remain and a ticket to SFO would increase by $2 to $4 per ticket under the proposal, Fang said.
BART fares to the airport are “by any stretch of the imagination a bargain,” he said, adding that riding the train costs significantly less than taking a cab or shuttle.
“This would be an important step forward in trying to resolve our current budget shortfall,” Fang said.
The majority of BART riders, who don’t use the airport service, would not be affected, he said.
Transit agency tries to close its budget gap
BART’s recommendations for reducing its $54 million deficit:
- 10 percent fare increase on July 1, including raising SFO premium fare
- No wage increase (subject to labor negotiations)
- Reduction of 100 positions (85 of which are currently vacant)
- Return to 20-minute service after 7 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and all day Sunday
- Reducing evening service to one line in Colma, South San Francisco and San Bruno
- Modifying East Bay parking policy to add more stations to the $1/day parking program
What 10% fare hike would mean:
- Lake Merritt to Embarcadero would increase from $2.55 to $2.81
- Millbrae to Embarcadero would increase from $3.55 to $3.91
- Dublin/Pleasanton to Embarcadero would increase from $4.70 to $5.17
- Fremont to Millbrae would increase from $5.75 to $6.33
- Dublin/Pleasanton to SFO would increase from $7.10 to $7.81
Source: BART
