OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The general manager of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system that serves the San Francisco Bay Area is retiring after eight years with the agency.
In a surprise announcement, Grace Crunican told the BART board of directors on Thursday that she’ll step down July 9.
Board members praised her tenure, which included plans to replace BART’s aging fleet of cars and passage of a $3.5 billion infrastructure bond.
KQED-TV says BART ridership grew by 30 percent on Crunican’s watch but complaints also rose about disruptions, crowding and crime, leaving the system with a record low approval rating.
There was a public outcry last July when an 18-year-old woman was stabbed to death at an Oakland station.
Crunican responded with safety improvement measures for the 120-mile system and its 47 stations.
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