‘Traffic is going to get a lot worse’: San Francisco Bay Area faces potential death spiral of transit system
Summary
The San Francisco Bay Area’s public transit system, known as Bart, is facing a major financial crisis that could force station closures, service cuts, and higher fares by early 2027. If voters do not approve new sales taxes to fund the system, the reduced service could cause even fewer riders, threatening the system's survival and leading to worse traffic congestion.Key Facts
- Bart connects 50 stations in five counties and serves over 7.5 million people in the Bay Area.
- It has 131 miles of track and includes an underwater tunnel designed to withstand earthquakes.
- Bart’s ridership peaked in 2016 at 435,000 riders per weekday but declined sharply due to the pandemic.
- Without new funding, Bart may close up to 15 stations, cut service frequency by 63%, raise fares and parking fees by 30%, and end service by 9 pm.
- A planned regional sales tax aiming to raise about $1 billion annually is on the ballot to support transit funding.
- If the funding measure fails, ridership could decline further, reducing fare revenue and creating a cycle of cuts that might make the system unsafe and lead to shutdown.
- Traffic is expected to worsen significantly if Bart service is reduced or eliminated.
- Bart was the first US transit system fully accessible to people with disabilities and is vital for commuters avoiding Bay Area freeway congestion.
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