BART joins push for billions in aid
Transit agencies plead for federal funds as virus cuts ridership, revenue
The coronavirus crisis has bodyslammed public transportation agencies across the country, including BART, and it will take $33 billion in new federal aid to keep the trains and buses running and help them lead the economic recovery, the nation’s largest transit agencies and labor unions declared Tuesday.
BART General Manager Bob Powers said the Bay Area’s backbone transit agency will need at least $600 million to get through this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and the next. That’s in addition to the $780 million it was allotted in the first federal stimulus bill.
Powers joined the leaders of the New York City, New Jersey, Atlanta and Philadelphia transit agencies, and transit labor leaders Tuesday in a video news conference to press for what they called “robust” funding for mass transit as the nation continues to fight the spread of COVID19 at the same time it tries to restart its economy.
“Our transit system has been brought to its knees by COVID19,” Powers said. “Ridership has fallen to just 7% of normal, and that means we are deep in the red.”
Like BART, other transit agencies are suffering precipitous ridership declines along with drops in tax revenues that contribute to their funding. While each agency differs in how it’s funded, they all need additional federal money to avoid having to cut service and instead help the recovery, the industry leaders said.
“This is a national disaster that requires a continued national response,” said Patrick Foye, chairman and CEO of the New York
Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “It is outpacing the historic levels of support included in the Cares Act.”
The $2 trillion initial federal stimulus bill included $25 billion in emergency assistance to public transportation agencies. That money was necessary — and appreciated — the transit leaders said, but more is needed. Along with the declines in revenue, transit agencies face increased costs for cleaning and making sure they meet new rider safety requirements, includ
ing providing enough service to allow riders to socially distance.
BART plans to continue running 10car trains to help stretch out peak travel times and lessen crowding on trains. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority said they plan to keep passenger loads to 50% of normal.
Should transit agencies not receive the amount of funding they’re seeking, Foye said, they won’t be able to continue transporting essential workers — from nurses and medical personnel to restaurant workers and food bank volunteers — and they won’t be able to provide the level of service necessary when people are able to return to work.
“The economy will continue to lag,” he said.
John Costa, international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents BART train operators and station agents, said the $33 billion will be necessary to lure people back to transit and keep the trains and buses running.
“If we’re going to reopen, we need more money (for transit),” he said. “We need riders feeling safe to come on board, and we need my members to feel safe.”
Powers cited a study last week that found that if just 1 in 4 transit riders in the Bay Area switches to driving, the resulting gridlock will double the length of their commute.
“We must be the first choice to avoid the gridlock that could affect economic recovery,” he said.