BART considers layoffs, station closures, reduced services to balance budget deficit
Gloria Rodríguez
Fri, February 13, 2026 at 12:44 AM UTC
1 min read
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BART on Thursday presented proposals that the agency could consider if it can't secure additional funding to make up for its deficit.
The drastic measures discussed during the board meeting include closing stations, reducing train service and conducting layoffs.
The agency is facing an annual deficit of nearly $400 million, with ridership levels decreasing since the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work trends.
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The agency presented the worst-case scenarios.
Phase 1 in Jan of 2027 would include closing the 10 stations with the lowest ridership.
During Phase 2 in July of 2027, up to 15 stations could shut down with a 50% fare increase.
Train service would stop altogether under Phase 3.
"These are all projections," said Victor Flores, BART Board of Director for District 7. "It all depends on whether we can find an additional source of sustainable revenue. We just want to make sure that we're fully prepared if that doesn't happen."
"I think what's important to remember is that these are not hyperbolic scenarios," said Laura Tolkoff, Transportation Policy Director with SPUR, a coalition working to place a regional transit measure on the ballot in November. "They are very real If BART cannot safely operate the system."
MORE: BART partners with Uber to offer discounted rides to, from some Bay Area stations
The Connect Bay Area ballot measure would be a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and 1-cent sales tax in San Francisco County, to help fund BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit.
If drastic service cuts are adopted, it would set BART back by 50 years.
A board vote on the proposal is expected as early as Feb 26.
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