Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Fare Gates in San Mateo County BART Stations
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution:
A) Authorizing the County to provide Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) up to $10,321,678 for the purchase of new fare gates to be installed at BART stations in Colma, Daly City, Millbrae, San Bruno, and South San Francisco, to the extent the costs for such purchase are not covered by a grant from the SMCTA Measure W Regional Transit Connection Program; and
B) Authorizing the County to pay from the amount provided to BART a portion of the costs to improve the fare gates at the Colma BART station in an amount not to exceed $1,888,112; and
C) Authorizing the County Executive, or designee(s), in consultation with the County Attorney, to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, or Memoranda of Understanding, with Colma, Daly City, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, and BART regarding the County’s provision of funds for the purchase of new fare gates and for services provided by BART at stations in San Mateo County.
BACKGROUND:
BART provides essential public transportation services to residents throughout the Bay Area, including in San Mateo County. On March 6, 2024, BART unveiled its Next Generation Fare Gate project (“Project”) which involves a systemwide replacement of BART’s legacy fare gates with new, state-of-the-art fare gates at all BART stations.
The Project will cost approximately $90 million to complete. Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Santa Clara County transportation authorities have contributed their county fundings shares.
Four cities within San Mateo County host BART stations; specifically, Daly City, Millbrae, San Bruno, and South San Francisco. In addition, the Colma BART Station is located in the unincorporated area, immediately adjacent to the Town of Colma.
The projected total cost of the Project for the above five BART stations in San Mateo County is $10,321,678. The allocation of the total cost among the jurisdictions—determined by how many fare gates are presently installed at each station—is itemized as follows:
Station Name # of Faregates Cost Per Station
Colma 15 $1,888,112
Daly City 13 $1,636,364
Millbrae 29 $3,650,350
San Bruno 13 $1,636,364
South San Francisco 12 $1,510,490
Total San Mateo County 82 $10,321,678
The San Mateo County Transit Agency (SMCTA) is responsible for overseeing transportation projects in San Mateo County, and part of its role involves allocating funds to various transportation agencies, including BART. BART intends to apply for a grant from the SMCTA Measure W Regional Transit Connection Program (“Measure W RTC Grant”) to cover the cost of the Project at the above stations in San Mateo County.
DISCUSSION:
As noted, BART intends to apply for a Measure W RTC Grant to cover the cost of the Project at BART stations located in San Mateo County. That indicated, it will not be known until July/August 2025 whether BART will receive the Measure W RTC Grant and, prior to that time, in order to avail itself of offered preferred pricing, BART must give notice to its contractor by March 31, 2025 as to whether the Project will include the stations located in San Mateo County.
Given the need to move this Project forward before it is known whether BART will receive a Measure W RTC Grant, staff recommends that the County agree to provide BART any amount, up to $10,321,678, that is not covered by the Measure W RTC Grant for Project costs at the above-listed stations in San Mateo County. The County, along with Colma, Daly City, Millbrae, San Bruno, and South San Francisco (collectively, the “Affected Jurisdictions”), would commit to send SMCTA letters of support for BART’s grant application.
In the event that BART does not receive a Measure W RTC Grant, or if such a grant is insufficient to cover the entire cost of the Project at the BART stations in San Mateo County, Daly City, Millbrae, San Bruno, and South San Francisco would repay the County for any funds the County provided for Project costs at BART stations in their respective jurisdictions, without interest over a time frame determined by the County Executive, in consultation with the County Attorney.
The cost to improve the fare gates at the Colma BART Station is $1,888,112 and, if any portion of those costs are not funded by the Measure W RTC Grant Grant, the County Executive, or designee(s), will work with the Town of Colma representatives to discuss the sharing of such costs since the Colma BART Station is located in the unincorporated area immediately adjacent to the Town.
The legislative councils of Daly City, Millbrae, South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Colma shall each take action to authorize repayment of any amounts ultimately advanced by the County for Project costs.
Staff further recommends that the Board authorize the County Executive, or designee(s), in consultation with the County Attorney, to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, or if appropriate, multiple Memoranda of Understanding, with Colma, Daly City, Millbrae, South San Francisco, San Bruno, and BART regarding the provision and repayment of County funds for the Project.
In consideration for the provision of funds, as described above, the Memorandum(a) of Understanding with BART would also include the following terms:
1. BART shall maintain the upgraded security gates after they are installed.
2. BART will coordinate with the Affected Jurisdictions to discuss strategies for increasing fare enforcement and BART police presence at BART stations in San Mateo County.
3. BART will coordinate with the Affected Jurisditions to improve the level of maintenance at each BART station in San Mateo County, including with respect to matters such as station and bathroom cleanliness, painting and graffiti abatement, elevator and escalator maintenance, lighting, repair of roofs and replacement of stained roof tiles, and replacement of bird netting,
4. BART will coordinate with the Affected Jurisdictions to discuss and support—in alignment with existing or future BART District retail plan(s)—retail operations, including those led by the Affected Jurisdictions, in appropriate areas of the BART stations in San Mateo County.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The County’s financial support of new fare gates at BART stations in San Mateo County will help to enhance an efficient, affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly, and accessible form of public transportation for all community members, increasing economic vitality and reducing reliance on vehicular traffic.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact will depend on future events. If, as expected, BART receives a grant to cover the cost of the project, there will be no fiscal impact. And were a grant not awarded, it is expected that the effected cities will contribute their shares of the cost. But the Board is authorizing the County to provide BART up to $10,321,678 for the purchase.