BART set to increase fares, parking costs TRANSIT Increase in fares, parking costs to help cover upgrades

It will cost more to ride BART - especially for people who park at stations.

The BART Board of Directors voted Thursday to continue the practice of imposing inflation-based fare increases every other year until 2020 and also to increase the cost of parking at BART stations, depending on demand.

And more increases could be coming. Directors asked BART's staff to study increasing the $1.75 minimum fare, imposing congestion pricing at the Montgomery and Embarcadero stations and renegotiating a deal giving the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency a deep discount for FastPass users riding within city limits.

The increases come as BART struggles to handle booming ridership and pay for new rail cars, an expanded maintenance yard, a new train-control system, station upgrades and other capital needs estimated at $10 billion over the next 25 years. The agency is also preparing to negotiate a new contract with its unions.

"BART's booming - ridership is going up," said board president Tom Radulovich of San Francisco.

"That's an opportunity, but it's a huge challenge. We haven't been investing enough to keep the system in a state of good repair. We haven't been investing enough to be prepared to handle the (increasing) capacity."

The fare increases, tied to the Consumer Price Index, are scheduled to take place on the first day of even-numbered years, beginning in 2014.

The first, coming in January, is expected to be 5.2 percent, which would increase the average BART fare from $3.59 to $3.78. Increases in 2016, 2018 and 2020 are projected to be 3.9 percent, eventually pushing the average fare to $4.25.

More revenue

Fare increases would raise an estimated $325 million over the eight years. The new parking charges would generate about $7 million a year initially and as much as $11 million a year eventually.

Carter Mau, BART's manager of budgets and planning, said the transit agency raises enough revenue to cover its operating expenses. The money raised by the fare increases will be steered into new rail cars and other capital projects.

Parking charges will be used to offset the costs of maintaining parking and helping pay for access improvements to stations, possibly including shuttle services or feeder buses.

While directors voted quickly and unanimously for the fare increases and 8-1, with director Tom Blalock of Fremont opposed, for the parking increases, the board spent more than two hours dickering over parking fees.

Parking fees vary

They eventually approved a plan that imposes a minimum $1 fee at all stations - seven are now free - and would raise or lower daily fees at each station based on demand up to a maximum of $3.

BART officials will examine each station's lots and garages every six months and will adjust prices accordingly. The soonest the parking rate changes would go into effect is June 1.

Stations with lots that are more than 95 percent full will have daily rates increase by 50 cents; those with lots less than 95 percent full will have their rates decreased by 50 cents. Monthly, single-day and long-term/airport parking will be tied to the daily rates at each station.

Ridership rising

Suburban directors argued that many of their constituents often have no choice but to drive to BART and park, and said a parking increase is tantamount to a fare increase. Others argued that maintaining parking at BART costs $6 million a year more than it brings in, and said commuters who walk, take the bus or bike to BART shouldn't have to pay for those who drive.

General manager Grace Crunican and Mau said the votes would give BART the money it needs to improve service and handle growing ridership, now at 380,000 trips a day but projected to exceed 400,000 for the 2014 budget year.

"This is a huge step in the right direction," Mau said.