BART Locks In All Five Union Deals, Finds $30M in New Revenue

The BART Board of Directors closed a pivotal chapter in labor relations Thursday, unanimously ratifying the final union contract extension and aligning all five bargaining units to a common July 2027 expiration — setting the stage for the agency's first comprehensive negotiations in over a decade. The board also received welcome budget news: nearly $30 million in additional FY27 revenue from ridership growth and smarter cash management, even as directors debated how to sequence nearly $1 billion in borrowing options ahead of a make-or-break November ballot measure.

• All five BART union contracts now aligned to expire July 2027, completing the first coordinated labor framework since 2013

• FY27 budget outlook improves by $30M from higher ridership projections and revised investment income strategy

• Major Daly City station overhaul starting in August will slash transfer times system-wide, including a Bayfair cross-platform transfer that drops from 19 minutes to simultaneous arrival

• Staff recommends drawing $98M in federal TIFIA loan proceeds first to bridge the FY27 deficit, preserving $245M in reserves

• $13M UPS contract re-approved after federal rule change forced rebid, adding $1.3M in costs

• Licensed engineer warns board three times about BART-to-Silicon Valley Phase 2 safety concerns, calls for dedicated subcommittee