No On BART Fare Hikes

Dear BART Board Of Directors,

It has come to our attention that BART may be proposing a fare surcharge to relieve high levels of congestion during the rush hour commute. This is in addition to already high ticket prices and a biannual increase of fare prices already decided by the BART board in 2003. Although we gladly support the system, we believe a fare surcharge is contradictory and unjust. Commuters are constantly persuaded into utilizing public transit systems for their commute yet BART has proposed a plan with an inconsistency to the idea. The world offers countless other ideas that add to BART's prosperity and reputation. We urge BART to reconsider its poorly thought out decision.

BART already employs a high fare price but is well accepted by commuters due to the convenience and speed the system offers. Higher prices will reduce popularity and dissatisfy numerous customers %u2013 expensive tickets for a soon to be obsolete system is unreasonable and inefficient. Less ridership will be accomplished at a higher ticket cost and thus the net income still remains the same %u2013 BART will be established as an overpriced system offering obsolete amenities. If BART continues this trend, we will constantly be seeing deficits within the system, decreasing ridership and eventually, and set of defunct railroad tracks.

While BART has already taken the idea into consideration, it is an absolute necessity that the system is provided with additional trains. A shorter interval between train arrivals during the rush hour commute allows more passengers to board per minute, providing a solution to congestion seen at Montgomery and Embarcadero Stations. If the system can maintain the same fare price while supplying additional trains, higher ridership levels will be achieved and further revenue will be returned.

BART costs approximately $580 million to operate annually but generates only $230 million from fare charges. If BART increases the fare, the system will appeal to less riders and the net income remains the same. If the system expands to more major cities in addition to the planned San Jose extension, supplies additional trains and continues to offer a comfortable and fast way to commute, the future of BART will no longer be in the shortfall of revenue but a reliable and popular system to everyone, tourists and residents alike. We urge BART to consider its future and to rethink the solutions it utilizes.