BART warns Emeryville-area riders of steep service cuts, fare increases if new funding falls short

BART Director Victor Flores told the Emeryville City Council that the transit agency faces a structural operating shortfall of roughly $370 million beginning in fiscal year 2027 and is preparing two budgets to respond.

Flores said BART has made visible safety and customer-service gains — new fare gates, LED lighting, a fully modernized rail fleet and expanded cleaning — and that the agency’s rider-satisfaction numbers have improved. But he said ridership and fare revenue remain well below pre-pandemic levels and that fares now cover only about 32% of operating costs, down from roughly 71% before COVID.

“The reality is that BART needs a new funding model,” Flores said. “We are passing two budgets at the same time. If the measure passes, we will maintain service; if it does not, we will implement an alternative service plan.” He said the agency is preparing a scenario that would reduce service by roughly 63% in an initial phase, shift to fewer lines, institute 9 p.m. evening closures and raise fares and parking fees by about 30% beginning January 2027. He added that, under a deeper follow-on cut, the agency could consider closing up to 15 stations or even suspending operations if it becomes legally or practically impossible to run the system safely.

Flores cited a range of state and regional funding prospects. He said Senate Bill 63 — a November sales-tax measure — would generate roughly $310 million per year for BART if approved, and noted that the governor signed a transit loan fund intended as short-term cash flow if the measure passes. Flores said the state loan would provide temporary relief only if the ballot measure succeeds in order to repay it later.

Council members stressed local impacts. Vice Mayor Solomon asked about coordination to improve lighting and cleanliness where Emeryville riders wait for shuttles, and Flores said staff would follow up with local partners. Council Member Prior pressed Flores on equity questions surrounding fare gates and asked how BART is protecting riders who cannot afford fares; Flores pointed to Clipper Start and other discount programs that reduce fares by 50% for people under set income thresholds and said BART continues to expand targeted discounts and outreach.

Flores framed the choices bluntly: “You either need to grow ridership dramatically or find new revenue,” he said, noting that ridership gains alone are unlikely to erase a multi‑hundred million‑dollar gap in the near term.

Next steps: Flores said the BART board directed staff in February to prepare both budget tracks and that staff will bring fiscal-year 2027 budgets forward before July under each scenario. The city council did not take formal action on the BART presentation; council members asked staff to relay concerns about local shuttle areas and rider access.