Community Corner

BART Strike Update: Talks Resume This Evening, Charter Buses Fill Up Quickly

Negotiators expected to discuss proposals that were on the table on Sunday evening

BART management and union leaders will sit down again at 6 p.m. this evening in hopes of ending the 2-day-old transit strike.

BART spokesman Rick Rice said the transit agency and representatives of the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 are expected to bring in the proposals they had on the table on Sunday evening when talks broke down.

At that time, BART was offering employees an 8 percent pay hike over four years. Union members were asking for a 23 percent salary increase over that same time period.

Rice wouldn't say whether BART management was optimistic a deal could be reached on a new contract.

"We're just glad to be back at the table and talking," he said.

Meanwhile, Tuesday morning's commute was a mixed bag.

Randy Reutschler, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, said the freeways appear to be less congested than on Monday morning, when many commuters suffered through 2-hour to 3-hour drives to San Francisco.

Patch readers offered their photos and views on the commute on our Facebook pages. One reader said it took a friend three hours to travel 18 miles.

People grabbing the free charter buses provided by BART at four East Bay stations had to arrive early today. At 7:15 a.m., BART reported those buses were filled and couldn't take any more commuters.

Buses were supposed to be available from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the East Dublin/Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, El Cerrito del Norte and Fremont stations.

BART did add bus service from its West Oakland station. Rice said those buses were able to handle all the passengers who showed up.

Bus passengers are given a round-trip ticket, so they will be the only ones allowed to ride the buses home from San Francisco on Tuesday evening.

Patch has put together a BART strike survival guide to help commuters find alternate modes of transportation.

Reutschler said Wednesday's commute might be better because some people may decide to start their Fourth of July holiday weekend early and take the day off.


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