Survey Finds 87% Call BART Essential, but Crime Keeps Non-Riders Away

The BART Board of Directors met March 26 with a packed agenda that put the agency's post-pandemic recovery narrative under a microscope: a new five-county survey confirming overwhelming public support for the system — and revealing exactly what's stopping millions from using it. The board also approved a contested safety plan over a lone dissent, greenlit $9 million for desperately needed maintenance vehicles, and bid farewell to a senior operations leader whose departure opens a critical gap.

• New survey of 1,400 Bay Area residents finds 87% say BART is essential to regional quality of life — but crime tops the list of reasons non-riders stay away

• Safety plan approved 8-1 after Director Liz Ames pushed unsuccessfully to add VTA-style continuous improvement provisions and delay for a board presentation

• $9M authorized for 126 replacement maintenance vehicles, with 47 already out of service and fleets averaging well over 100,000 miles

• Ridership hits 14% above last year, with Saturday trips reaching 85% of pre-pandemic levels

• Operations chief Shane Edwards departs after 11 years, leaving a leadership vacuum as BART navigates budget uncertainty and VTA Phase 2 challenges

• Directors float bold ideas to grow ridership: eliminating the Oakland Airport Connector fee, launching a public performance dashboard, and partnering with airlines and sports teams

A sweeping new survey gives BART both its strongest public validation and its clearest marching orders as the agency stares down a fiscal cliff when federal COVID relief expires in January 2026.