"Low turnout jeopardizes SFO BART extension"

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Low turnout jeopardizes BART extension
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
THE CONTRA COSTA (CA) TIMES


Low ridership may force BART to cut back service on the two-month-old
extension to San Francisco International Airport and the Peninsula.

Samtrans, the San Mateo County agency responsible for paying the new line's
operating costs, has said it will run out of money before the first of the
year unless more people ride.

The line logged 25,000 trips a day in July and August, a figure far lower
than the 42,000 estimate on which planners based the operating budget.

"Less service is a possibility although we don't want to do anything to
discourage ridership," said San Mateo County Supervisor and Samtrans board
member Mike Nevin. "BART and Samtrans are going to have to work together on
this situation. We can't break Samtrans. That won't help."

The threat of red ink will further test BART and Samtrans' relationship, a
complex partnership that has evolved over often difficult negotiation and
construction issues.

Under its contract with BART, Samtrans accepted liability for extension
operating costs. In return, it receives fare proceeds and a share of parking
and other fees.

If the line makes money, the agencies split the proceeds. If it loses money,
Samtrans must cover the deficit.

BART officials insisted on the provision to protect the operating money for
the rest of the system, funded partially by taxpayers in Contra Costa,
Alameda and San Francisco counties.

San Mateo County residents do not pay BART property tax and do not hold
seats on its elected board.

Despite the provision, Samtrans has advised BART that it cannot afford to
exceed the $6 million it budgeted to operate the line through June 2004 and
has asked to renegotiate the contract.

Unless ridership dramatically improves this fall, Samtrans will spend every
dime of its budget by early next year, Nevin said.

BART officials vowed to hold Samtrans to the terms of the deal even if it
means going to court.

Philosophical differences aside, BART has suffered deep budget cuts in the
recent economic downturn and lacks sufficient cash reserves to absorb a
prolonged financial drain.

"The financial consequences of this could be enormous to the people in the
East Bay if Samtrans walks away from its agreement," said BART Director Dan
Richard of Walnut Creek. "But before we start swallowing Samtrans poor-mouth
talk, we need to ask them why they continue to run bus service that competes
with the new line."

At the same time, BART holds a huge stake in the new line and "will do
everything it can to help Samtrans resolve the issue," said BART General
Manager Tom Margro.

Cost-cutting measures could include service cuts, although Margro and Nevin
expressed reluctance to make changes that might hurt ridership.

Staffers will also evaluate ways to improve service without hiking costs,
such as tweaking the schedule to allow for better timing and the elimination
of transfers from East Bay routes.

The airport station has proven the most attractive destination, followed by
the San Bruno and South San Francisco stations.

The Millbrae station, with its highly touted cross-platform connection with
CalTrain, has attracted far fewer customers than planners anticipated.

"We're not sure what's happening at Millbrae," Margro said. "The terminus
(end of the line) stations usually have robust ridership. ... I've also
suggested that we look at the impacts of both the $1 surcharge and the
parking fees. It may be that a combination of those fees has put some people
off."

Despite the gloomy talk, Margro and Nevin both say it's too early to panic.

The line opened June 22, the start of summer and the traditional slow period
for transit.

"We couldn't have opened at a worse time," Nevin said. "Schools and colleges
were out. The freeways were flowing. The economy continued to suffer. People
didn't have jobs."

Both men say they will look to September results, where they hope the end of
the vacation season and worsening traffic on Highway 101 will deliver more
fare-paying passengers.


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