BART’s Board of Directors has approved a new parking pricing policy that updates the range of what customers can pay for station parking spaces and allows for rates to be gradually adjusted over time, based on inflation.
The proposed price range for the daily fee is $3 to $6.30 per day, up from its current range of $1 to $3 per day. For the single/multi-day fee, the proposed range is $4 to $11 compared to the current price of $4 to $7; the new monthly fee would be $84 to $220, an increase from the current range of $63 to $105.
The new policy also extends the hours for which parking is charged to include afternoons and weekends at stations where lots are 90 percent full. Due to parking being readily available, this change will not immediately impact most stations.
Parking prices will vary by station, and local parking taxes apply in certain areas. San Francisco has a parking tax of 25 percent, Oakland has a 18.5 percent tax and Berkeley has a 10 percent tax.
BART saw an operating deficit from its parking lots of about $17 million this fiscal year, which is one of the reasons behind the implementation of the new policy. Updating the policy is also a way for BART to be in sync with parking prices across the Bay Area and among peer transit agencies, according to BART officials.
Rides to cost more
The board at its June 8 meeting also voted to approve fare increases. Fares will rise twice over two years, by 5.5 percent each. This is a compromise from the original proposal of a single increase of 11.4 percent.
The average fare, which is currently $4.20, will increase by 23 cents as a result, according to a BART news release.
While some board members and public commenters voiced concern about the impact of increasing parking and train fares, granting a larger discount to low-income riders was approved. The Clipper START fare discount, which provides single-ride fare discounts to individuals aged 19 to 64 earning under 200 percent of the federal poverty level, will be increased from 20 percent to 50 percent.
The board also approved a budget that is balanced for the 2024 fiscal year but has a deficit of $93 million for the 2025 fiscal year. Bob Powers, BART general manager, said the shortfall reflects challenges BART has faced in emerging from the pandemic.
“It’s a stark reminder that BART alone cannot solve the financial crisis created by the pandemic,” Powers said. “Right now, BART needs temporary state funding to bridge the gap while we pursue a sustainable source of operating funds to advance the Bay Area and California’s economic, climate and equity goals.”