BART Approves Plan for Station Closures
San Francisco's BART board has approved a revised plan that includes closing some stations next year as part of a contingency measure. The specific stations affected and the exact timing of the closures have not yet been announced, but the move will likely impact commuter routes across the Bay Area.
The plan to close stations is a response to a structural budget deficit of $350 million to $400 million that BART faces annually. This financial crisis stems from ridership levels that have plateaued at roughly 50% of pre-pandemic figures, a critical issue for an agency that has historically relied on passenger fares to cover the majority of its operating costs. This "doomsday" plan is contingent on the failure of a November 2026 ballot measure, dubbed the "Connect Bay Area Act". The measure proposes a half-cent sales tax increase in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, and a one-cent increase in San Francisco to provide stable funding for regional transit. If the tax measure is unsuccessful, the initial phase of cuts is scheduled for January 2027 and includes a 63% reduction in train hours, eliminating service after 9 p.m. daily, and increasing fares by at least 30%. The plan would also reduce service to three main lines and lead to the layoff of approximately 1,200 employees. The actual station closures, affecting up to 15 of the system's 50 stations, were pushed to July 2027 following public and board feedback on an earlier proposal. The BART board, not staff, will make the final decision on which stations to shutter, with a commitment to consider factors beyond just low ridership, such as impacts on regional connectivity. The board approved the contingency plan in an 8-1 vote, with director Liz Ames dissenting. Several board members have publicly stated that the plan is not a scare tactic, but a fiscally responsible necessity to prepare for a worst-case scenario. Prior to this drastic step, BART states it has already implemented a range of cost-saving measures. These include rightsizing service, realizing labor savings, increasing operational efficiencies, and reducing the agency's office space footprint. A second phase of cuts could take place in July 2027 if the financial situation doesn't improve, potentially increasing the total reduction in service hours to 70% and raising total fare and parking fee hikes to 50%. In the absolute worst-case scenario, if the system cannot be operated safely or legally with the available funds, a complete shutdown of passenger service is a possibility.
