Board of Directors

BART Board Approves 8-1 Emergency Roadmap for 70% Service Cuts If Revenue Measure Fails

Board approved a two-phase alternative service plan that would cut train service 63-70%, raise fares up to 50%, eliminate nearly 1,200 positions, and potentially close 15 stations if no new revenue materializes.

Why it matters: This is BART's most consequential budget action in its 54-year history—without voter approval of a regional measure this November, the agency faces potential shutdown, as even the deepest cuts cannot guarantee long-term sustainability.

Two Encampment Fires in February Disrupt Service, Board Pushes Statewide Legislative Fix

Fires from homeless encampments on railroad rights-of-way disrupted BART service twice in February, melting fiber optic cables and closing the Transbay Tube.

Why it matters: Encampment fires represent a recurring and escalating threat to BART's aging fiber infrastructure, and piecemeal negotiations with individual cities cannot scale to protect the entire 131-mile system.

45-Minute Peak-Hour Network Failure Sparks Board Demands for Better Crisis Communication

A single failed network card at Lake Merritt knocked out transbay service for 45 minutes during Thursday peak commute, with directors reporting poor rider communication.

Why it matters: The outage exposed single points of failure in BART's network infrastructure during a network renewal and threatened the ridership recovery the agency desperately needs to sustain its budget.

Civil Rights Attorney Eliana MacHevsky Joins BART Civilian Police Review Board

Director Ghosh appointed civil rights attorney Eliana MacHevsky from the National Police Accountability Project to the BART Civilian Police Review Board.

Why it matters: The board has sought an attorney on the police review panel, and the appointment fills a vacancy at a time when civilian oversight of law enforcement faces national political headwinds.

Inspector General Recovers $1.7M, Completes Link 21 Audit with 24 Recommendations

The Audit Committee reported OIG investigations recovered $1.7 million from construction contracts and a Link 21 performance audit produced 24 accepted recommendations.

Why it matters: The recoveries and audit findings demonstrate the value of independent oversight at a time when BART faces intense fiscal pressure and public scrutiny of its project management.

Governor Signs $590M Transit Loan at BART Facility After Legislative Push

Governor Newsom signed AB 117 at BART's Daly City shop authorizing a $590 million interest-free loan to MTC supporting operations at BART, AC Transit, Caltrain and Muni.

Why it matters: The loan provides near-term fiscal certainty for Bay Area transit agencies but its full use depends on voter approval of a regional revenue measure this November.

Station Closures Debate: Phase 1 vs Phase 2

A major board debate emerged over whether the 10 proposed station closures should be in Phase 1 or moved to Phase 2. Directors Foley, Ames, Rinn, and Hernandez advocated moving station closures to Phase 2, citing harm to vulnerable communities, transit-dependent riders, TOD investments, and political impacts on the ballot measure. Directors Wright, Ghosh, and Li argued station closures should remain as a Phase 1 tool to test hypotheses on cost savings and learn before reaching the balanced-budget Phase 2. Director Flores sought presentations on bankruptcy scenarios. The emerging direction from GM Powers was to bring back a modified framework with station closures in Phase 2, offset by a higher fare increase or use of reserves in Phase 1.

Financial Efficiency and Cost Reduction Efforts

Staff presented data showing BART's operating cost per hour is on the lower end compared to peer heavy rail systems (MARTA, WMATA). Since 2020, BART achieved nearly $1.3 billion in combined savings and revenue over six years, including workforce right-sizing ($170M), right-sized service ($200M), and rail car procurement savings. Staff noted costs they cannot control — health insurance, retiree medical, unfunded pension liabilities, and traction power — have increased significantly. The MTC-required SB 63 financial efficiency review is underway with a consultant, due in early April. Director Ames called for a third-party efficiency audit of all departments. Director Foley noted BART needs to fix its 'broken funding model that relies too heavily on weekday ridership.'