BART sets SFO ridership record on Christmas week

SFO ridership up 56% compared to first year of service

BART passengers have broken ridership records to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) during the Christmas travel season for the fourth year in a row. 62,400 people used BART's SFO train-to-plane connection between December 21st and December 27th. That's a 20% increase compared with the same period last year, when 52,000 people used BART to connect to the airport.

RIDERSHIP GAINING EACH YEAR
Passengers have set ridership records to SFO during the December 21st through December 27th Christmas holiday travel period in each year since the SFO Station opened in 2003. In fact, 2007's ridership represents a stunning 56% increase compared with 2003, when approximately 40,000 passengers took BART to and from SFO.

WHY THE RIDERSHIP INCREASES?
BART officials attribute the increase in ridership to BART's low cost, high-frequency service as well as its 96% passenger on-time record. This year, BART raised the bar on its holiday incentives by partnering with Kaiser Permanente to sponsor a successful "Kids Ride Free" promotion on Saturday, December 22 and by doubling the number of Airport/Long Term parking spaces. BART made 1600 Airport/Long Term Spots available system wide. In the East Bay, Airport/Long Term parking costs just $5/day and on the Peninsula the cost is just $6/day.

Officials believe more people have discovered taking BART not only helps them avoid the Bay Area's gridlocked traffic, it also helps them save on the high costs of gas and long-term parking. In fact, a BART ride from downtown San Francisco to SFO costs $5.15*. The average taxi ride costs between $32 and $42.

*Fares will go up 5.4% starting January 1, 2008.