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BART officials are hoping that improved gate options will reduce the number of fare evaders. It appears most BART board members are prepared to embrace a less expensive option, as long as it's adopted quickly.
The BART Board of Directors is considering four options for fare gates. Some are used in other cities' transit system, but none is a perfect model.
The new gates may make it more difficult for people with disabilities to enter and may not be able to handle the volume of riders during peak travel times.
BART Board President Bevan Dufty favors an option that's called a stacked and cinch gate.
"It's a fare gate that is difficult to evade," said Dufty. "[Unlike our existing fare gates> the ability of people to put their hands down and vault over would be really minimized by this."
Fare evasion, which is a huge problem for BART, results in an estimated $25 million lost each year. The stacked and cinch option will be tested at the Fruitvale and Richmond stations, two locations where fare evasion is rampant.
This modification would cost $15 million to $25 million, but BART Director Rebecca Saltzman said other gates would cost up to $135 million.
"If we don't have a funding source, I really think we need to have some clear analysis about return on investments," said Saltzman.
Another option would be the so-called 'Iron Maiden' gates, which are used in the New York City subway system. This model has interlocking metal fingers from floor to ceiling.
A decision on fare gates will be made in the coming months.