Lamorinda commuters could see fewer BART trains, earlier shutdowns, and fare hikes starting in January 2027 if voters in Contra Costa and four other Bay Area counties reject a regional sales tax measure on the November ballot.
BART Chief Financial Officer Joe Beauchamp delivered the warning at the annual Lamorinda Tri-City joint meeting Thursday, July 16, at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. The transit agency faces an annual operating deficit exceeding $400 million, Beauchamp told the 15 assembled council members from Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda, because remote work has permanently cut weekday ridership to roughly 200,000 riders, about half the 400,000 who rode daily before the pandemic.
If the measure fails, BART could close up to 15 stations systemwide, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Lafayette and Orinda each have a BART station. Moraga does not.
The ballot measure would raise sales taxes by a half-cent in Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and by a full cent in San Francisco. Early polling shows 56% support among likely voters, according to the Chronicle.
Moraga Mayor Steve Hillis argued that his town already faces limited transit access and warned that cutting BART's feeder bus funding would further isolate Lamorinda commuters. Several other council members questioned BART's long-term financial model while stressing the need to keep the Lafayette and Orinda stations open. Some urged BART to run a stronger public campaign touting safety improvements, new fare gates, and cleanliness gains to lure riders back.
Amy Worth, a former Metropolitan Transportation Commission chair and former Orinda mayor who supports the measure, told the San Francisco Chronicle in a separate interview that passing the tax will require sustained effort. "It's always a challenge to meet those voter thresholds," Worth said. "You have to work hard for it."
Wildfire, e-bikes, and federal funds
Wildfire evacuation drew the evening's strongest consensus. Council members called it Lamorinda's top transportation priority, citing narrow roads, insurance pressures, and home-hardening mandates.
Townsend Public Affairs Vice President Casey Elliott briefed officials on wildfire bills advancing in Sacramento, including legislation that would let regional partnerships like Lamorinda compete directly for state prevention grants and a proposal allowing fire agencies to declare Red Flag school closure days without districts losing attendance funding.
Elliott said Assembly Bill 2346, which would give cities authority to set local e-bike speed limits and lighting standards, is on track to reach Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk after the Legislature adjourns in late August.
On the infrastructure front, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Executive Director Tim Haile announced the authority awarded a contract for a countywide emergency evacuation study. Haile said construction on Lamorinda's $5 million Smart Signals project, upgrading 56 traffic signals across all three cities to communicate in real time, is scheduled to begin next spring.
What's next
No policy votes were taken at the July 16 session beyond approving the agenda. Contra Costa County voters will decide the BART half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot. Lafayette City Council meets next Monday, July 27; Moraga Town Council resumes Wednesday, July 29; and Orinda City Council returns from summer recess Tuesday, Aug. 18. Residents can track agendas and submit public comment through each city's online meeting portal.
