Nextransit

We're envisioning, researching, planning, and building tools for a better urban future.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@Yuchenj_UW SF used to have later cafes and very late food, but as the city's been more tech focused, it seems like those options have dried up.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@Onargiix @brezina @schneider As i've explained, transit agencies don't really automate for labor cost. Automation of taxis makes sense because labor costs are high per passenger. But a train can carry thousands of people. Automation would save only 10% of BART's budget & cost 50 years worth of labor build.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@Onargiix @brezina @schneider Those are separate questions.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@Onargiix @brezina @schneider That would be an amazing union if that were true!

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@Onargiix @brezina @schneider Paris could not push the # of trains through the tunnel they needed to without automating them. It was a strategic investment in capacity.

BART should automate for many reasons, incl throughput, but it won't get us anywhere w/ budget today—and BART would need a lot MORE capital

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@Onargiix @brezina @schneider Cost savings are NOT the primary reason transit systems automate. BART drivers are roughly 10% of BART budget, or ~ $90-100 mil. At $5 bil capital cost, that's 50 yrs of labor! And where does that money come from today?

Automation is normally about throughput (eg more trains).

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@brezina @schneider The problem with BART isn't that its labor costs are extraordinary, it's that it over-relied on peak commute trips to fund its service. Unique ridership is *UP* vs pre-pandemic, but each rider takes it 2-3 days/wk vs 5 days/wk. Decreasing service in response would drop ridership.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@brezina @schneider Sure, but their labor costs are not particularly high. I realize everyone is trying to reduce labor costs & BART can as well, but unlike smaller transportation like cabs or even buses, per passenger-mile labor costs on BART is orders of magnitude lower.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@NoCyclopathTO @Waymo BART has an op budget of $883 million/yr.
Waymo's is somewhere ~ $2-6 billion/yr.

BART is "FAILING" w/ 2.5 million riders.
Waymo has "HUGE RIDERSHIP" w/ 876,000 riders.

🤔

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@brezina @schneider BART has not meaningfully hired new staff since pre-pandemic, the only increase in staff is security & increased capital (eg new fare gates & entrances).

Automation is good, but most agencies use it to increase throughput, not cost savings. There's a HUGE capital cost required.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@brezina @schneider Sure, but we fawn over Waymo, even though their per passenger mile costs are potentially 2 orders of magnitude higher.

You can argue BART needs change, but it has one of the lowest pax-mile $ in the US. Labor cost increases are similar to private sector over same period + CPI.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@dbsb3233 @bilal_akh When everyone lives spread out, everything takes forever — transit can't get close enough, freeways can't handle the capacity, and city streets lose vibrancy. The price you pay for everyone wanting a house is spending 4 hrs/day getting around & paying $$$ for the privilege.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@dbsb3233 @bryanculbertson @bilal_akh Bay Area has 9.75 million different transit agencies and counties and joint powers. BART taxes the counties it serves. Muni taxes San Francisco city only. It's not what you're describing.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@brezina @schneider BART has an op budget of $883 million/yr. Waymo's is somewhere ~ $2-6 billion/yr. BART carries 2.5 million. Waymo carries 876,000. I see nobody calling for Waymo to shut down with a fiscal hammer.

BART can get better, but it has one of the lowest pax-mile costs in the US.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@kane @SFBART @SFBARTalert For reference, 0.00018% of airline passengers overdose per year. Similar ballpark as BART! Guess we should shut down the planes too.

But wait! 0.0027% of Americans overdose every month. That's 10x higher than BART percentages! BART is 10x safer for overdoses than daily life.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@kane @SFBART @SFBARTalert 2.5 million people ride BART monthly. While 16 overdoses is too high, that means 0.0002% of riders overdosed.

That "crack den" sucks at its name--it's basically a transit system that occasionally has a drug user.

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@mariadavidson If you think we have a spending problem, which of those are you hoping to trim back, out of curiosity?

[Nextransit @Nextransit]

@mariadavidson You must be well-off? In the last 10yrs:

+100% in Medi-Cal (covering ~40% of Californians)

+180% in homeless housing and beds

-40% drop in child poverty

+63% in PFL benefits

+60% in CalFresh

+500% wildfire $$

+500% in solar, +1k% storage

+300% in EITC

+Universal TK

[bryan culbertson @bryanculbertson]

@nypost In reality, BART is the most efficient heavy rail agency in the nation and has more unique riders now than in 2019