The State - News from Jan. 15, 1987

The average daily number of riders on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, once as high as 215,000, has dropped to 197,000 in recent days, according to a report to the board of directors. “I feel . . . that the transit district is going down the drain over time,” BART director John Kirkwood said. The report said that instead of trying to woo commuters, who began deserting the system when fares increased 30% a year ago, the district tried to lure midday shoppers. Although there are 460,000 people who could commute by BART during rush hour, only 70,000 ride the trains, the report said. Almost half of BART’s riders said it costs more to ride the train than to drive to the same destination.