BART Rejects Retirement Incentive, Advances $15M Track Rebuild

BART's Board confronted the hard math of its looming fiscal cliff Thursday, learning that a retirement incentive program meant to soften potential layoffs would actually cost the agency more money — not less. With 1,170-plus positions on the chopping block if a November revenue measure fails, the Board also approved critical track repairs near Fremont, heard an $820 million capital spending plan that one director called "very underfunded," and began pulling property management work back in-house.

• Staff analysis kills retirement incentive option, finding it would increase costs under every scenario modeled — with higher participation paradoxically costing BART more
• $15M track rebuild near Fremont approved 8-0, with five weekend shutdowns and bus bridges planned for late summer and fall
• FY27 capital budget drops to $820M from $1.1B as railcar procurement wraps up; Director Ames flags significant shortfalls against 10-year plan
• Director Foley forces in-house transition for BART Police HQ property management, requiring AFSCME meet-and-confer and staff training within one year
• BART ridership surges 11% year-over-year, with April numbers running 7% above budget
• Engineer sounds alarm on VTA tunnel safety, pressing the Board on emergency ventilation cuts and reduced cross-passage distances in the BART-to-Silicon Valley Phase 2 project

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No Easy Off-Ramp: Retirement Incentive Would Cost Money, Not Save It

Why it matters: If voters reject BART's November revenue measure, the agency faces eliminating more than 1,170 positions. A retirement incentive was one of the few remaining tools that could theoretically cushion that blow. Staff just took it off the table.

Where things stand: Budget Director Chris Simi presented a detailed analysis comparing a potential retirement incentive to the 2021 Deferred Retirement Incentive Program, which saved $12 million by abolishing the positions vacated by retirees. The math this time is fundamentally different: because those positions must be cut regardless under the alternative service plan, voluntary retirements generate no incremental savings. Under all four modeling scenarios — from 25% to 100% participation among 205 eligible employees — the program would increase BART's costs due to actuarial liability spikes and required incentive payments.

"We do not recommend pursuing a retirement incentive program at this time or in November," said Budget Director Chris Simi. He added that "the more people who participate in the program, the more it would actually cost BART."

The other side: Public commenter Alita Dupree cautioned that some specialized positions, like train controllers, would be extremely difficult to backfill once employees leave — whether through an incentive or not. She noted employees may retire on their own simply because of the uncertainty hanging over the agency.

Decisions: Board Chair Janice Li noted the Board's silence indicated agreement with staff's recommendation. The item was informational, requiring no vote.

What's next: With the retirement incentive ruled out, workforce reduction remains BART's primary lever if the revenue measure fails. The stakes of the November ballot measure continue to sharpen.

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$820M Capital Plan Advances, but Director Warns It Falls Short

Why it matters: BART's capital budget is dropping by nearly $300 million from FY26 as railcar procurement winds down, and at least one Board member is raising serious questions about whether the agency is keeping pace with its own infrastructure needs.

Where things stand: Staff from Capital Financial Planning and Infrastructure Delivery presented an FY27 capital budget of $820 million, with more than 70% directed to eight major programs. Core Capacity is the largest single investment at over $250 million. The agency expects to receive the last 59 new railcars this year, and Interim AGM of Infrastructure Delivery Joy Sharma reported that communications-based train control is progressing: "We are on track to deliver the first phase of CBTC into revenue by year 2030." The capital budget is fully funded with secured sources, 65% from regional, local, and BART funds. Staff noted 33 projects were completed in FY26.

Director Ames Flags the Gap: Director Liz Ames zeroed in on the distance between the FY27 budget and BART's own 2024 10-year capital investment plan, noting that train control, traction power, stations, and track/structures are all materially underfunded versus the plan. "FY27 is very underfunded. That's all I have to say," she said. Staff responded that an updated capital investment plan will be presented in late June.

Director Rash Ghosh advocated for more investment in station aesthetics, saying "over the years we have value engineered so much that we've lost some of the charm that we might invest in for our station." Vice Chair Edward Wright pushed for funding for the 16th Street Mission plaza resurfacing, noting that "right now that work is not reflected in our capital budget." Director Victor Flores asked about platform screen door outreach, with staff projecting a Board update by August or September.

What's next: Staff will present an updated 10-year capital investment plan in late June. If the revenue measure fails, a presentation on capital program impacts will come at the next meeting.

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Board Greenlights $15M Track Rebuild Near Fremont

Why it matters: The A85 interlocking between Union City and Fremont stations has become a chronic reliability problem, and the rebuild will require five weekend shutdowns affecting South Bay commuters this summer and fall.

Where things stand: Interim AGM Joy Sharma presented the project, which replaces running rails, four switches, a crossover, and associated train control and traction power infrastructure. Construction will occur over five planned 51-hour weekend shutdowns from August through October, with bus bridge service between Union City and Warm Springs. Three contract actions were bundled into a single vote: trackwork assembly to Stacey and Witbeck ($499,000), on-call construction support ($2.5 million), and a change order with DMZ Builders for traction power and train control work ($1.5 million). "The total overall cost for this project is $15 million," Interim AGM Sharma confirmed.

Director Liz Ames flagged a scheduling concern, noting that Fremont's Festival of India Mela falls on Aug. 15–16: "It starts at 10 a.m. on the 15th and it starts again on the 16th at 10 a.m." Director Ghosh asked about the cause of wear and tear, learning that construction of the Warm Springs extension had accelerated degradation. Director Robert Raburn noted the project's overall $15 million cost and advocated for small business participation.

Decisions: The three contract actions passed 8-0 in a single vote (For: 8 — Hernandez, Ames, Flores, Foley, Ghosh, Li, Raburn, Wright; Absent: Rinn).

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Foley Forces In-House Shift for BART Building Management

Why it matters: The amendment signals a policy turn away from outsourcing routine facility operations, with implications for labor relations and building management across BART properties.

Where things stand: Director Mark Foley pulled consent item 3E — a change order extending RiverRock Real Estate Group's property management contract for BART Police Department headquarters — to propose an amendment limiting the extension to one year through July 2027. His amendment also requires meet-and-confer with AFSCME about in-sourcing, mandates training for current staff, and directs best efforts to hire internally.

"Contracting out should be used for short-term needs, not regular day-to-day work," Director Foley said. "We should train staff to perform this work that will be needed in perpetuity."

Board President Melissa Hernandez supported the amendment but emphasized following through on training.

Decisions: The amended item passed 8-0 (Rinn absent).

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Ridership Up 11%, Engagement Hits New Highs

General Manager Bob Powers delivered a wide-ranging report highlighting BART's momentum ahead of the critical November revenue measure.

"April ridership outperformed expectations — 7% above budget and 11% higher than a year ago," GM Powers reported. Fiscal year to date, ridership sits 8% above budget and 12% above the prior year.

Powers also announced BART will run limited express service to Embarcadero for Bay to Breakers, touted a record-setting Take Our Kids to Work Day with 400 children attending, and noted that transit-oriented development outreach at Hayward drew more than 190 attendees. The 2026 ugly sweater pre-sale launches next Friday; last year's sweaters generated approximately $76,000 in profit.

Director Foley raised staff concerns about transit funding uncertainty that surfaced at the employee spring town hall, which drew nearly 800 attendees. Director Ames requested updates on the BART-to-Silicon Valley Phase 2 design variances ahead of a May 22 joint meeting with VTA. GM Powers confirmed he had held two meetings exceeding an hour each with the VTA general manager: "I've had two meetings with the VTA general manager, one in person Monday, one yesterday, both of them north of an hour, going over the deck and materials."

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Engineer Presses Board on VTA Tunnel Safety Deviations

Licensed professional engineer Barney Smits appeared during multiple public comment periods to raise alarm about the BART-to-Silicon Valley Phase 2 project managed by VTA. He cited increased distances between cross passages (from 300 feet to 500 feet), removal of emergency ventilation structures, stations requiring 10 flights of stairs for emergency egress, and what he called a "$787 million financial disaster." He urged the Board to demand regular updates and reject design variances from BART safety standards.

A separate public commenter, Roland, provided engineering context, explaining the safety significance of cross-passage spacing using the Channel Tunnel fire as precedent — where zero fatalities occurred because cross-passage intervals were shorter than train length.

Director Ames echoed the frustration: "I do want to convey my frustration about trying to get the variance information, the design variance, design criteria, variances."

The Board and GM Powers confirmed a joint meeting with VTA is scheduled for May 22, with a potential launch pit tour.

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826 Valencia Brings Student Voices to BART

The meeting opened with a celebration of BART's third collaboration with 826 Valencia, the San Francisco-based nonprofit. More than 100 students ages 9–18 created BART-themed writing pieces now featured in short story dispensers — including a new one at San Leandro — and train car cards, a first for the program. Fifth-grader William Gonzalez performed his piece "BART Can Carry You to Chocolate Land."

"826 Valencia is an iconic organization and BART is iconic. And to see two icons come together to do this is fantastic," said Director Rash Ghosh.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar (items 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3F, 3H) approved 8-0, including April 23 meeting minutes, SB 827 mandatory ethics training plan, NeoGov applicant tracking change order, building engineering services change order for BART Police HQ, train control modernization change order, and CBTC axle modification contract.
• Item 3G (BLS stand-by services for BART stations) was pulled by staff and will return at a future meeting.
• Board member reports: Directors highlighted Bike to Wherever Day, AAPI Heritage Month events, and community outreach. Director Ghosh reported UC Berkeley students found over 90% of surveyed riders would have no alternatives if BART shut down. Vice Chair Wright noted a 16th Street plaza community meeting was held "for the first time presented entirely in Spanish."
• Closed sessions were held on North Berkeley Station development negotiations and the Haynes v. BART litigation. Nothing was reported out.
• Public commenter Joe Kunzler informed the Board that Sound Transit in Seattle may seek to license BART's faregate technology.
• FY27 budget adoption is scheduled for June 11.