Take Your 10 Cents And Fix Some Trains!
This morning was a perfect example of why the $5 million surplus should be used on maintenance and longer trains rather than 10-cent fare cuts.
I got to del Norte station in plenty of time to catch the 9-car 7:16 Millbrae train. When it shows up (late), it was an 8-car train (which is especially annoying to me, because I always get on at the last car so I can take the stairs up at Embarcadero). No matter; we herd onto the train like cattle. We sat for about a minute at the station then the TO gets on the intercom and says that the train hit something on the tracks prior to entering the station and he would be taking the train out of service.
All of us, including the passengers who had embarked at Richmond, crowded back onto the platform. The next train that showed up was a 6-car Fremont train, and there was no way that another person could cram themselves on (not to mention that transferring to an airport train at MacArthur would be brutally crowded), so we just kept waiting. 20 or so minutes later another Millbrae train came.
Less than a minute after we departed del Norte, the train came to a stop and the TO announced that due to a mechanical problem, we would be reversing directions and going BACK to del Norte. Once we got there, we were all crushed like sardines trying to get down the stairs and back up on the other side again, during which time another Fremont train came and went. I finally got to the city at 8:30am. Would another 10 cents in my pocket have softened that blow? No. Fix the damn trains, BART.
While I agree that BART
While I agree that BART surplus funds should not be spent on fare reductions, your story isn't a worthy justification for spending the $ on maintenance.
First, the train hit a tree branch which had fallen onto the tracks outside El Cerrito del Norte. That had nothing to do with the maintenance of the train, but rather Mother Nature's whims.
Second, I was waiting at El Cerrito Plaza Station to catch the schedule 7:26 Fremont train. Since the 7:19 (7:16 @ del Norte) Millbrae train didn't arrive, we had large crowds when the Fremont train arrived. I was near the end of the long line of people boarding, and I still got a seat. The only people standing were bicyclists. While I was near the end of the train, there was plenty of room on the train, which did surprise me.
I think the problem is that El Cerrito del Norte riders are extremely fickle and will only get on trains that are direct into SF, and only if they have a seat. They will line up at the door markers ahead of a Fremont train, only to stand there when the doors open, as they are waiting for an SF train, but refuse to move out of the way for those boarding the Fremont train. I used to get on there, so I know. In the PM they line up at the door starting before Plaza station just so they can be the first ones down the stairs, of course that blocks the doors for those actually trying to exit at Plaza. Maybe it's because many of them have to drive or take a bus to Vallejo or Marin or whatever, but in general, they need to mellow out and go with the flow.
Like I said, I agree with spending the money on logical things, but your story is bunk.