BART Considers Closing Up to 15 Stations

Proposed service cuts could impact thousands of Bay Area commuters.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:10pm by Ben Kaplan

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The BART Board of Directors has initially approved an Alternate Service Plan that would close up to 15 stations if a November 2026 ballot measure fails and additional funding is not secured. This follows a proposal first introduced at the BART board's annual workshop on February 12.

Why it matters

The potential station closures would significantly disrupt transportation for thousands of Bay Area residents who rely on BART for their daily commutes. The cuts could isolate certain communities and create accessibility issues, especially for low-income and disabled riders.

The details

The Alternate Service Plan would close up to 15 BART stations if the November 2026 ballot measure fails to secure additional funding for the transit system. The specific stations targeted for closure have not yet been announced, but the plan was first proposed at BART's annual board workshop on February 12.

  • On February 26, the BART Board of Directors initially approved the Alternate Service Plan.
  • The November 2026 ballot measure that could prevent the station closures is scheduled for that year.

The players

BART Board of Directors

The governing body of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system that oversees operations and strategic planning.

Perceid Cabelleda

The Embarcadero BART Place Manager, who was interviewed about the potential station closures.

Hannah-Clark Nixon

The Managing Editor of Xpress Magazine, who was also interviewed about the proposed service cuts.

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What they’re saying

“The potential station closures would significantly disrupt transportation for thousands of Bay Area residents who rely on BART for their daily commutes.”

— Perceid Cabelleda, Embarcadero BART Place Manager (Skyline View)

“The cuts could isolate certain communities and create accessibility issues, especially for low-income and disabled riders.”

— Hannah-Clark Nixon, Xpress Magazine Managing Editor (Skyline View)

What’s next

The BART Board of Directors will need to finalize the Alternate Service Plan and determine which specific stations would be closed if the November 2026 ballot measure fails.

The takeaway

The proposed BART station closures highlight the ongoing funding challenges facing public transportation systems in the Bay Area. The potential service cuts could have significant impacts on commuters and accessibility, underscoring the need for long-term solutions to ensure reliable and equitable transit options.