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Uploaded: Friday, March 1, 2013, 7:16 AM
Updated: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 7:48 AM
BART votes to continue slightly increasing fares every two years
Board also OK's parking lot fees to vary according to use
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by Dolores Fox Ciardelli
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
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 | The BART Board of Directors voted Thursday to continue its fare increase program, which is based on inflation and goes to pay for new trains and other system improvements.
The inflation-based program, which has been in place since 2003, was designed to offer passengers a predictable pattern of small fare adjustments over time. The renewed program approved Thursday will raise fares in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 at a rate below inflation.
The increase is calculated based on the average rate of inflation over the two-year period minus 0.5% for improvements. It is estimated that this program will generate $325 million over the next eight years.
The first increase, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014, will be 5.2% (based on inflation data from 2010-12). BART's average fare is $3.59. A 5.2% increase would cost an extra 19 cents, bringing the fare to $3.78.
"These small increases are an important part of BART's financial health, especially as we face a $10 billion unfunded capital need," BART Board President Tom Radulovich said. "We want our passengers to know we don't make decisions like this without great consideration. The money generated will only be allowed to go toward capital needs such as paying for BART's share of the new rail cars and a new train control system which will allow us to run trains closer together. These contributions also help us leverage other funds, making the value go even further."
A survey showed that about 60% of BART passengers support the continuation of the inflation-based program; they responded that they would rather have predictable small increases over time than large boosts. In the 2012 Customer Satisfaction Survey, 70% of passengers rated BART a good value for the money.
The board also OK'd a parking program that outlines a policy of when to raise or lower the cost of parking. This revenue will fund station and access improvements.
The money collected from BART's paid parking program does not cover the cost to provide parking. It costs $21.7 million a year to provide security, maintenance, lighting, landscaping and cleaning, while BART collects $15.6 million a year. Nonetheless almost all BART lots fill up at an early hour every day.
Under the new parking program, all lots will cost at least $1. If a parking lot fills up every six months, the daily fee will be increased by 50 cents. If the occupancy is less than 95% full, the fee will decrease 50 cents. The BART Board voted to cap the fee at $3, except for at West Oakland, which costs $5. Customers will be given 30 days notice of any changes in fees.
Parking at the Pleasanton BART stations currently costs $1 until 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Since the monthly, single day, and long term/airport rates are a function of the daily fee, the cost for those permits may be raised or lowered in the equivalent of 50 cents daily increments according to the changes to the daily fee at a particular station.
This new parking rate policy is expected to generate a much-needed $6 million in the first year and $10 million in subsequent years. The additional revenue could only be used for station access, and to renovate or modernize stations.
"Many of our aged stations are in desperate need of upgrades and improvements," Radulovich said. "This new money will go towards projects such as escalator and elevator reliability, improved lighting, more secured bike parking, shuttle programs, better drop-off areas, and other improvements to stations and access."
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Posted by Parking: BARTD vs. Integrity , a resident of Livermore, on Mar 1, 2013 at 9:39 am When they proposed the new electric train, they promised that there would be ample parking, and that it would be free.
Now, not only are they charging for something that was to be included, as part of the package that went to the voters, BARTD sold off the ground level parking at Dublin to a developer, and it is now being built on.
They also promised, and budgeted for the train to go to Livermore. (They claimed Pleasanton did not need as much parking because it was NOT the End of the Line.)
They took that money, taxes, grants, and federal, but never built the track. And recently they let a Lexus Lane be constructed in the right of way needed to build to Livermore.
You have to wonder if they ever can be honest?
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Posted by Same People who promised a seat for every rider, a resident of Livermore, on Mar 1, 2013 at 9:51 am BART cars originally had no straps or handrails, because they claimed never be needed.
They thought thy would never have a fire either, so the interiors were very flammable plastics.
Until they had the tragic 1979 electrical TransBay tunnel fire that incinerated four BART cars, destroyed others, killed an Oakland firefigher, and injured others.
After that, the Oakland Fire Chief declared the Cars in the tunnel unsafe, and shut the Tunnel down for months, until BART finally agreed to fix the cars, and correct some fire protection systems that were installed without approvals, and would not work..
From Wikipeadia:
In January 1979, an electrical fire occurred on a train as it was passing through the tube. One firefighter (Lt. William Elliott, 50, of the Oakland Fire Department) was killed in the effort to extinguish the blaze.
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Posted by BARTD's Historical Attitude, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 1, 2013 at 9:59 am The January 17, 1979 fire completely destroyed four cars, and the rest were suspected of structural heat damage and removed from service.
It did illustrate that the smoke evacuation system was woefully inadequate, and the interiors of the cars were plastic that burned fast and gave off copious toxic smoke.
Fire authorities had known about the plastic and many building and exiting fire concerns, but BARTD refused to address their issues. They said BART answered only to the California PUC, (who was totally not up to the task of regulation.)
After that Fire, Oakland Fire Chief Wm Moore declared the tube and BART a "fire hazard" and prohibited running trains under the Bay.
At first, BART claimed he did not have the authority, but the PUC would not override him, so the under bay tube was out of service for months.
Under this pressure, BART eventually agreed to a long program to replace the interiors of the cars- over several years- and to fix many fire related features that never worked before such as the ventilation, and fire standpipes and pumps that were designed wrong.
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Posted by Cleo, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 1, 2013 at 11:19 am (Post removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff as irrelevant to this thread.)
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Posted by Anti-Union, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 1, 2013 at 3:25 pm Of course rates HAVE to systematically increase every two years.....quietly, they are given one of the most excessive public employee pension programs !!! No other options. That's the other half of out-of-control public pensions ! ! ! It must be fought and controlled...DO something !
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Posted by Anti-Union, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 1, 2013 at 3:43 pm It would be funny, if it weren't so traggic. It is suppose to be "based on inflation". Somebody should inform the 'board' that there is no inflation!!! next?
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Posted by local, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 1, 2013 at 5:11 pm "Inflation" = "Higher wages and benefits, including pensions"
On pension cost, we the taxpayers pay 100% of the employee's share of the pension cost. Plus the district allows employees to purchase 'air time' on their pension system, with the taxpayer holding the bag on the actual costs when the pension plan does not meet the unattainable expected returns. BART employees have free use of the system for themselves, their family, while employed or after retirement.
The BART employee contracts expire on June 30, 2013 (this year). Expect a threat of a strike, the management giving in, and then another increase of rates.
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Posted by tim, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Mar 2, 2013 at 10:23 am one party rule baby, one party rule!!
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Posted by Beth, a member of the Walnut Grove Elementary School community, on Mar 3, 2013 at 9:22 pm Workers, all workers, are entitled to a fair wage and a secure retirement. If you are so angry that public employees have negotiated to retire with a modicum of security, maybe instead you should look to your CEO employer, who earns 300 times what you do, and ask for a fair wage and a decent benefit package. Web Link
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Posted by Anti-Union, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 3, 2013 at 10:35 pm Beth pushing the socialist brainwashing agenda isn't going to help us seniors who have no 'retirement' provided by others...independent workers, shop keepers, professionsal sales people, ete.
Increases are ok in the years when there is inflations, but NOT in years when there is NOT inflation. shameless greed
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Posted by Cleo, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 3, 2013 at 11:12 pm I feel badly for folks who were either too stupid or too cowardly to organize and form a union during their working lives. But they should be expected to take on some responsibility for their failure to act. When they boo-hoo about present day unions, all it is is whining by the stupid and cowardly. You're angry about public worker pensions? What kind of retirement do you think the CEO gets? Oh well, might as well keep deflecting your own frustrations toward those who have had the intelligence and bravery to stand solidary against owner exploitation of labor.
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Posted by Won Hung Lo, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 4, 2013 at 6:34 am BART workers get outrageously high compensation for the jobs they perform. Another case of the unions, liberals, illegal aliens troika vacuuming out your wallet.
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Posted by Pensions were never the problem, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:06 am
The problem is that government employers got a free ride when times were good.
When interest rates were very high, pension funds were invested so well that governments and Agencies, like BART, were allowed to reduce or stop paying toward employee's pensions, because of the interest or return on the investments.
The investments did so well that employers did not have to pay or charge the employees for years; and CalPers was worried that the State of Ca would "borrow" their money.
But when interest rates came down, pension funds just burned away their funds, and did not promptly ask employers to pay, or to pay enough. Eventually that caught up to them, and employers not only have to pay, they need to make up for some of the prior free ride. CalPERS and the teachers pensions are similar.
Yes, the employers need to pay more. But it is interesting to see news articles that say CalPERS is now getting a much better rate of return on investments, so perhaps there's hope that can help offset the years of underpayments.
If you ask the employees to pay more, it really just costs more in the long run because that money comes out of their salaries, which the employer pays,and is taxed, too. If the employer pays, it is pre tax. When you consider taking a job, that's an important comparison.
Employees did not cause the recession, and cutting the pensions that they are entitled to, based on years of service, will not solve today's problems.
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Posted by local, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:15 am Looks like the union shills are on this board.
I have no problem with unions in the private sector although I think some of them price themselves out of the market and then they do a disservice to their members. The difference between a private company union and the public sector unions is the pubic sector unions actually control the 'business'. Cities will not shut down or be outsourced, same with transportation systems like BART. They will either force higher prices (which in the public sector would mean a loss of business to your competitor), or the public will have less services. The districts have a monopoly. Unions work when there is no monopoly. When there is a monopoly, the unions are are no different than the mob with their extortion.
As for a CEO making millions of dollars, while it is excessive in many places, it has nothing to do with the discussions here. We are talking about a monopoly here, not the free enterprise. If a company pays their CEO an outrageous salary, I can choose not to do business with that company if it bothers me, or not buy stock in that company. Their competitor can use profits to improve their products which give them a leg-up over the company giving out high salaries. In the public, we have none of this going for us.
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Posted by You may be missing something here, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 4, 2013 at 9:22 am Hey, One Hung Low:
You said
"Another case of the unions, liberals, illegal aliens troika vacuuming out your wallet."
But BART actually made millions in profits this year.
Even after paying the employees a decent wage and benefits.
Lo Bidder?
I for one do not think I want to ride an electric train run by people who can't get a better paying job...
SO it is the BART managers who just want to take MORE of your money, and charge for parking. One year they proposed to temporarily reduced fares as a way to give back to the riders who have no choice as to what they pay, but not this time.
(More people might ride the buses to BART, if they did not depart too soon for riders to board.)
And what does this have to do with E. T. and illegal aliens?
That's a whole other subject!
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Posted by local, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 4, 2013 at 5:08 pm BART did not make any profits. The system is subsidized by the taxpayers at a pretty substantial amount.
How much experience does it take to press the button to close the door on the train? The rest happens automatically.
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Posted by Libertarian First, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Mar 4, 2013 at 5:15 pm @"How much experience does it take to press the button to close the door on the train?"
Like totally! I mean like my drunken brother in law could do that job for a lot less!
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