BART sounds alarm on finances

BART officials are painting a grim picture of agency finances as ridership has collapsed because of COVID-19. BART ridership has dropped 95% because of the pandemic, according to agency officials.

When it meets Thursday, the BART board will get an update on the agency's budget under item 4b.

Among the findings: 

• BART is forecasting a $180 million revenue loss in the current fiscal year ending June 30, and up to a $420 million revenue loss in the new fiscal year beginning July 1 (federal aid will not entirely offset the losses.)
• BART’s ridership scenarios in the coming year are based on medial and economic factors and assume that ridership will average between 15% and 55% of pre-COVID-19 levels.
• Expected costs for protective equipment for workers, cleaning and disinfecting, and related operational strategies are in the $40 million to $75 million range in the coming year.
• Capacity of BART’s train cars could be reduced from 180 on a typical peak train car to 60 (with passengers 3 feet apart) or 30 (with passengers 6 feet apart).

BART hopes to get more stimulus money from the federal government to assist its operations.