(KRON) – Bay Area Rapid Transit has announced that the transit system is facing a “fiscal cliff” and may run out of emergency funds in 2026.
BART believes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic “decimated” transit ridership. After the pandemic, remote work has become a norm for many. According to BART, prior to the pandemic money from passenger fares and parking fees covered nearly 70% of the cost to run BART service and now only 25% of operating costs are covered by fares.
The Bay Area has the highest work-from-home rates in the nation, according to BART.
At the beginning of the pandemic, BART received nearly $2 billion in federal, state and regional emergency assistance to keep trains running. However, the funding is set to run out by spring 2026.
BART listed the potential consequences of its fiscal cliff:
- 60-minute train frequencies
- 9 p.m. closures
- Station closures
- Line shutdowns
- No weekend service
- Mass layoffs
- Increased traffic congestion
- Negative impact on state climate goals
- Priority populations disproportionately impacted
- No BART service altogether
The transit company is collaborating with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and other stakeholders to tackle the financial challenges. BART said a regional tax measure will likely be on the November 2026 ballot.
(KRON) – Bay Area Rapid Transit has announced that the transit system is facing a “fiscal cliff” and may run out of emergency funds in 2026. BART believes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic “decimated” transit ridership. After the pandemic, remote work has become a norm for many. According to BART, prior to the pandemic […]