Here we go again! Bart Board President Fang looks for new ways to drive riders away from Bart while suggesting that his 20% surcharge would raise 17.5 million to save somewhere between 19 and 74 jobs of which 30 are currently vacant. At 74 that is $236,486 a job!!! How much do we pay people like Mr Fany to run so called public affordable transportation? At what point does he not get it? Justifies the suggested surcharge by saying the bridge tolls will be going up so we (Bart)can raise prices too! Once again we have a fool running the circus and not having a single logical and reasonable approach to helping those who are paying his salary by the riding Bart. I am sure he will now reconsider and have some lame excuse for the idea. Maybe if prices stay down there will be too many people using Bart- so why not charge for parking,apply a surcharge for sitting down, a fee for riding the esculator, restroom use fee a fee on the newspaper guy,or charge the TAX drivers a fee for waiting at the stations-- Maybe we should ask Mr Fang how he gets to and from "work"-- in a Bart provided car no doubt with free parking, gas etc.

Another tax proposal essentially. Why? Because our system has no money, or rather I should say they waste all our money. On what? Illegal immigrants, cultural welfare abusers, and an exceedingly lame yet money-devouring education system. There are those who wish to break the back of the good American taxpayer. I say we break theirs

I agree with Gunslinger. There also seems to be very little accountability. Amtrak is subsidized by the Government (at least partially) and look how "efficient" it is. What a joke!

The problem with BART's costs are their employee costs are the highest of just about any transit agency. BART even admits it. Go to their jobs site and you see this:

"BART offers one of the most comprehensive compensation and benefits programs you will find anywhere. We pay at rates that are strongly competitive in the labor market, and complement our pay program with an outstanding benefits package. Benefits include the renowned CalPERS pension, excellent medical, vision, and dental coverage, supplemental insurances, excellent paid holidays and vacation, as well as two investment programs, one of which is entirely funded by BART on your behalf. BART also saves you money in your paycheck because no deductions are made for Social Security."

Search on open jobs and you also see a job of executive manager that pays up to $211,672.03!

You can also see a job for a Elevator/Escalator maintenance person whose primary job is "cleaning of escalators, including checking handrails, steps, combs, contacts, relays, plates, rollers and brakes" and that pays $27.24 /hour to $35.60 /hour