BART Asks Congress for Help Due to 90% Drop in Ridership

BART ridership is down by 90% since the start of the pandemic, and they’re facing a $30 million budget deficit.

KRON4 recently reported that on Wednesday, December 9, some of the country’s biggest transit providers, including BART, held a virtual rally in order to apply pressure towards the federal government to help provide additional funding to help keep the transportation agencies moving.

Earlier this year, the CARES Act provided BART with additional funding, however, those funds are running out. BART has staved off mass layoffs and major service reductions but implementing cost-saving measures such early retirement, a hiring freeze, and reducing the frequency of its trains.

Unfortunately, if the current conditions continue, BART anticipates that their budget deficit could balloon to $200 million in 2021. A $900 -billion pandemic relief bill is being considered in Congress; if it passes, it provides $15 billion for transit agencies across the country.

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