BART cuts time to SFO station

On Monday, BART eliminated direct service to the underused Millbrae station, routing all trains through San Francisco International Airport.

The cost-cutting measure also means wait times for passengers traveling to the airport will be cut in half in most cases, from 14 to seven minutes, but those traveling on to Millbrae will have a slightly longer trip.

Even riders at that station Monday were supportive of the new schedule.

"I figure it adds a few more minutes, but what the heck? It's convenient," said Tami Adachi, 50, of Redwood City. "It used to be a longer wait for the Millbrae train, which is maddening when you are trying to get to San Francisco."

The Pittsburg and Richmond trains will now pass through SFO before continuing on to Millbrae. The schedule is similar to that already used on weekends.

The move will also save the cash-strapped San Mateo County Transportation District, which pays for BART service, close to $1.3 million next year.

Though the San Mateo County extension has attracted only about half as many riders as BART planners had predicted, ridership figures have begun to creep up slightly in recent months. More than 28,000 riders used the system in August, up from a low of 23,999 in January.

"All of us are holding our breath that this holds," said BART spokesperson Linton Johnson.