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by SeanAnderson 1158 days ago
I agree, but the funding still has to come from somewhere. SF has an 800M budget shortfall and is looking at slashing services ~20% https://sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/san-franciscos-def...

The BART website clearly states that they are able to provide current operations due to COVID funding which runs out in 2025. They plan to stop offering weekend routes, stop running after 9PM, reduce train frequency to every 60 minutes, etc.
2 comments
shuckles 1158 days ago
BART's budget is not funded by San Francisco. I think there are many sources of funding such as bridge and highway tolls which should be explored to shore up BART operating budgets. In addition, BART should abandon boondoggle capital projects like the monstrous tunnel VTA is proposing in the San Jose extension to invest in ways that improve service on existing lines. Finally, it is more than reasonable to redirect highway spending to transit.
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SeanAnderson 1158 days ago
That sounds reasonable enough, thanks. It looks like tolls generate ~750M currently and BART shortfall is ~330M. So, it's doable if we're able to push through an increase of 50% on tolls.

I wasn't able to easily look up our highway spending budget.

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jeffbee 1158 days ago
That's not what BART's report says, at all. That is a worst case analysis. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission required all agencies to undertake an unusual analysis using scenarios provided by MTC. The report concludes that BART cannot cut its way to solvency in the given scenarios. The report does not reflect BART's actual projections or plans.
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SeanAnderson 1158 days ago
Okay, sorry if I am fearmongering. It's not my intent. What do you feel will happen?

From my perspective, there's a website that has the word crisis in the URL, a chart that shows a ~40% loss in revenue due, and the two-year SF budget shortfall is trending up - recently revised from $720M to $780M. I find it challenging to take away an alternative perspective when none is offered up on the website beyond "be a transit champion."

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shuckles 1158 days ago
This is a bit too optimistic. BART in its current two year budget is projecting consecutive years of $300m operating deficits. That is very far from sustainable and not an unusual worst case.
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