Bay Area Mulls Sales Tax to Avert Major BART Cuts

Measure would seek tax hike in November; critics are calling the development a scare tactic

Mar. 14, 2026 at 11:47pm by Ben Kaplan

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Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is facing a $400 million annual budget gap due to decreased ridership since the pandemic, and the agency's board has proposed a "doomsday scenario" that would include reduced service, higher fares, and station closures. BART officials now want a November ballot measure to raise sales tax across five Bay Area counties to address the shortfall, but some critics are calling the proposal a "scare tactic" and arguing that salary cuts and labor contract renegotiations should be considered first.

Why it matters

BART is a crucial transportation system for the Bay Area, connecting San Francisco to surrounding cities and neighborhoods. The proposed cuts could have a significant impact on commuters and entire communities, making it harder for people to get to work, school, and other destinations. The debate over the sales tax measure highlights the financial challenges facing public transit systems in the wake of the pandemic.

The details

BART's ridership is currently less than half of its pre-pandemic levels, leading to a $400 million annual budget gap. The agency's board has proposed a "doomsday scenario" for 2027 that would include reducing the number of trains, increasing fares by at least 30%, shutting down the system at 9pm instead of midnight, laying off around 25% of its workers, and closing 15 stations, mostly at the system's edges. BART officials are now seeking a November ballot measure to raise sales tax across five Bay Area counties to address the shortfall, but some critics are calling the proposal a "scare tactic" and arguing that salary cuts and labor contract renegotiations should be considered first.

  • BART's ridership is currently less than half of its pre-pandemic levels.
  • BART's board has proposed a "doomsday scenario" for 2027 that would include service cuts and other changes.
  • BART officials are seeking a November ballot measure to raise sales tax to address the budget gap.

The players

BART

Bay Area Rapid Transit, the regional public transportation system serving the San Francisco Bay Area.

Steve Glazer

A former Democratic state senator who is criticizing BART's proposal, arguing that salary cuts and labor contract renegotiations should be considered first.

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What’s next

BART officials are seeking a November ballot measure to raise sales tax across five Bay Area counties to address the budget gap. The measure would need to be approved by voters in order to take effect.

The takeaway

The financial challenges facing BART highlight the broader issues public transit systems are grappling with in the wake of the pandemic. The debate over the sales tax measure reflects the difficult tradeoffs and tough decisions that must be made to maintain essential transportation services in the Bay Area.