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BART board representative outlines safety gains, service tools and warns of looming fiscal cliff
Summary
At Moraga’s Jan. 20 council meeting, BART board representative Matt Rind described recent safety and cleanliness improvements, new fare gates and "Tap to Ride," but cautioned the system faces a substantial budget shortfall that could force service cuts without new revenue. Councilors pressed on connectivity and youth/senior discounts.
Matt Rind, who said he is the new BART district representative, told the Moraga Town Council on Jan. 20 that the system has recently expanded security and station staffing and completed a systemwide rollout of new fare gates and contactless "Tap to Ride" payments.
"I am Matt Rind, your new representative on the BART governing board," he said, and listed a string of management changes and programs he said are intended to improve riders' perceptions of safety and cleanliness. Rind credited a pair of operational changes — new fare gates at all stations and additional crisis‑intervention personnel — with reducing some categories of crime and increasing confidence among senior riders. He said transit ambassadors and station attendants complement uniformed officers and that BART is pursuing partnerships with ride‑hailing companies to improve first‑ and last‑mile access.
Why it matters: Rind framed the improvements as part of an effort to rebuild rider trust and revenue. He also warned that federal and state funding uncertainty has…
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