Janice Li
Janice Li is a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors in California, representing District 8. She assumed office in 2018. Her current term ends in 2026.
Li ran for re-election to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors to represent District 8 in California. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Elections
2022
See also: City elections in San Francisco, California (2022)
General election
General election for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors District 8
Incumbent Janice Li won election in the general election for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Janice Li (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 99,252 |
| Total votes: 99,252 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors District 8
The following candidates ran in the general election for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Janice Li (Nonpartisan) | 32.0 | 39,997 |
| Eva Chao (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 24,525 | ||
| Melanie Nutter (Nonpartisan) | 19.0 | 23,659 | ||
 | Brian Larkin (Nonpartisan) | 13.2 | 16,527 | |
 | Jonathan Lyens (Nonpartisan) | 11.8 | 14,688 | |
 | William Walker (Nonpartisan) | 4.1 | 5,070 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 343 | ||
| Total votes: 124,809 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Janice Li did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Janice Li completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Li's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
My vision for BART is simple: A safe, reliable transit system that puts people first. That's why my top three priorities are safety, fiscal responsibility, and affordability. I would make BART safer by increasing the staff presence at stations, prioritizing downtown San Francisco stations for fare gate replacement, expanding the successful elevator attendant pilot program, and hiring social workers and human services staff to bring resources to people experiencing homelessness at BART stations (to be modeled after San Francisco Public Library's program). I would ensure fiscal responsibility by putting the focus on BART's core system rather than advocating for new unfunded expansions, holding BART accountable to delivering on 2016's BART bond dollars specifically including the $350million going towards station access improvements (e.g. elevator and escalator replacement),and diversifying and increasing revenue sources through efforts like Transportation Task Force 2045 and supporting measures like the TNC Tax (AB1184). I would also regularly attend BART Bond Oversight Committee meetings and ensure BART's budget is accessible and easy for the public to understand. I would work to make BART more affordable by expanding discounted/free fare programs for low-income BART riders (including students, seniors, and people with disabilities), supporting AB 2923 and pushing for the highest levels of affordable housing on BART property to meet previously approved guidelines of building 20,000 units of housing on BART property by 2040. I would work toward establishing an equitable fare policy by reestablishing the BART + Muni FastPass, creating a monthly pass for BART and exploring and implementing fare integration between BART and Muni so that BART serves the widest possible ridership.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Working in advocacy and community organizing with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for the past 5 years, I have gained expertise in, and a great passion for transit policy issues. I have worked on legislation at the local, regional and state level and won countless campaigns for better bike infrastructure, more funding for transit and policies that encourage sustainable transportation. As your BART Director I would continue to passionately fight for these issues.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
An elected official should have comprehension of the policy area relating to their office, and experience successfully advocating for policy decisions in that area. My understanding of transit policy issues contributes to the realistic and comprehensive vision I have for the next four years on this Board. Additionally, my experience in advocating for transit issues has allowed me to build connections with local organizations, government offices and elected officials who I've been able to work with on key legislation. During my time at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, I've participated in a wide range of policy conversations from fare policy to sustainability to transportation funding. I've worked at the local, regional and state level to push for and win legislation that prioritizes transit and sustainable transportation. I've also been able to build strong relationships with our state legislators while actively working on, supporting and winning a wide range of state bills, including AB 1184 with Assemblymember Ting which was recently signed by Governor Brown.
What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
One important skill it's helpful for holders of this office to possess, is a strong understanding of transportation funding. The expansion and maintenance of low-income fare programs requires sustainable funding that allows these programs to survive. Given my experience serving on San Francisco's Transportation Task Force 2045 and being a leader in the Transit Justice Coalition, I have that strong understanding. I have been actively leading advocacy to push for progressive revenue measures to fund needs like Free Muni for Youth and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. I believe that mobility is a human right and we have work to do to make sure everyone can get around in ways that are truly affordable and accessible. Understanding how to diversify revenue, and manage current spending also ensures fiscal responsibility. Many westsiders do not depend on BART as part of their daily commute but they still pay into the system. I would hold BART accountable to their timelines of delivering critical maintenance and upgrades as part of Measure RR ($3.5 billion bond approved by voters in 2016) and push for transparency in how BART's budget is developed.
What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?
BART not only provides San Francisco residents the power of mobility but also connects the various Bay cities through public transit and serves the two largest airports in the area (OAK and SFO). With a significant portion of the population relying on public transit to commute to work and school, the individuals who serve on the BART Board have a significant impact on the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of residents living in the Bay. As one of the many residents in San Francisco without a car, I too depend on BART and Muni and I understand firsthand the importance of decisions made by the board. I not only understand the successes of various BART programs but I also have a clear vision for improvements that will make BART better.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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