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Service through the Transbay Tube resumed Tuesday morning around 7:25 a.m., about an hour after it was halted when a nine-car train bound from Pittsburg/Bay Point to San Francisco International Airport uncoupled in the tube.
Cheif Spokesperson Linton Johnson provided this update to the media later in the day.
"Change is gonna come." Youth vocalist, Chris Pierce set the tone for BART's Black History fair. The program featured art, crafts and exhibits by local vendors. Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: "Happy Black History Month!" BART Board member, Carole Ward Allen acted as the mistress of ceremonies and stressed the importance of recognizing the rich history of the African American culture. Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: "I like for all of you to know that we have a generation of young people to whom names that you and I take for granted - they have no idea, they have no idea. This event is the fruit of two months of planning by a creative team of people who have volunteered their own time so that we can celebrate Black History Month." devorah major/story teller: " Did you know that California was named after an African Queen?" Renown story teller and former San Francisco Poet Laureate, devorah major performed an oral history that enthralled the audience. devorah major/story teller: " When I was a child growing upin San Francisco in the 1950's 60's, I was a negro. I didn't become Black unitl I was about 13 years old. But when Black became beautiful, it was Africa Black, Black nationalist Black. it wasn't Black's in California being beautiful throughout California history. See, I didn't know that California was named after Queen Califia, an African mythological queen - did you?" BART's General Manager Dorothy Dugger shared early experiences that led to her live long commitment to equality and diversity. Dorothy Dugger/BART General Manager: " I had the privledge of growing up in Martin Luther King's Alabama. I was a young girl when King was writing his letters from the Birmingham jail and leading the march on Selma. I was 11 years old when this Civil Rights movement that he led resulted in the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights's Act." The Black History Fair is just one of many events that both recognize and celebrate BART's own diversity. Dorothy Dugger/BART General Manager: " That diversity enables us to hear and learn from the many voices, experiencesperspectives and the many need that our region looks to us to address. It is what helps us provide service each and everyday that is relavent and useful to very diverse public we serve." "Change is gonna come." Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
Augmented reality is coming to a BART station near you.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " It's all there. All the information you need: transportation, points of interest,the BART
stations."
BART is partnering with San Francisco-based junaio to integrate transit data - such as station locations and estimated arrivals - into a
BART channel on the junaio 2.0 augmented reality platform.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " Within this channel specifically, you get information relavent to only what you are
looking for.So if you are looking for a BART station - here's a BART staion. If you are looking for a train schedule - here's a train schedule.
If you want to know how to route from location A to location B - here's how you route it. So, it's all encompassing, you don't have to tap in
to different platforms to find the information. You can just tune in to one channel and it has all the information there for you."
Augmented reality - A-R for short - lets users see digital content such as text or graphics overlaid on real objects on their mobile phones.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " There we are, there's BART."
Junaio product marketing manager Lisa Murphy gave us a tour earlier this week to see how this free app will work for BART riders.
On San Francisco's busy Market Street, Murphy navigated to the BART channel for an instant check in real-time on when her train was
coming in to Embarcadero Station.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " SFO train in 12 minutes. I've got time to go to Peets for a cup of coffee."
Junaio also lets users tag photos, audio and text in the real world and leave digital "crumbs" behind at particular locations for others to
explore.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " One of my favorite things to do in San Francisoc is just go out and explore restraunts."
For example, Murphy is a foodie who loves the gourmet shops inside the Ferry Building.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " Food at Ferry is awesome."
She created a personal channel called "SF Eats" where she leaves tips for her friends - like trying the Cowgirl Creamery for a great
selection of cheeses.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " They can litterally point up their phone and be able to see this content and then pick
that up and be able to say "OK. Lisa, four meters away right now just left a message that says " Cowgirl Creamery - best cheese."
The BART channel gives tips for things to do near BART - like the San Francisco Railway Museum near Embarcadero Station, which
features historical artifacts and archival photos from San Francisco's rich rail history.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " It's a fun wayto go beyond the overlay of information that is useful, especially for
transportation, but it's fun to engage the users to go beyond just viewing the data but playing with the data as well."
Junaio is currently available free for iPhone 3GS and through a web interface, and a version for Android is in development.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " You get live feeds as to service advisories - no delays."
BART was one of the first transit agencies in the nation to provide schedule and real time data to developers. Today more than two dozen
innovative applications have been created using BART data. Click on link in the text version of this story www.BART.gov/apps for more
information.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " You click on this and it says to Daly City in two minutes on platform one."
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
Mike Schwarz/The Cowen Group: "In this economy, it's all about saving money." Yes it is. And that's why Mike Schwarz of the Cowen Group signed on when his company started offering commuter benefits to offset the cost of mass transit. Mike Schwarz/The Cowen Group: "They're tax free, so in the end it's cheaper for me to commute. I'm taking BART that means I'm not driving my car as much and that's less I have to go to the gas station." Basically, The IRS lets commuters set aside pretax money to help pay for transit. Employees can deduct up to 230/month and use that money to pay for BART tickets. Brian Stone/The Cowen Group: "It's easy to allocate money for your transportation. Obviously, it comes off your taxable income at the end of the year which is the most beneficial part." When all is said and done, the savings can reach 40%. For businesses, it's a benefit that pays for itself. Stuart Baker/CommuterCheck: "Any money employees set aside in the program, employers do not pay any payroll tax. This is essentially a free benefit for employers, that's why it's really popular." And getting more so. Already, 10-thousand Bay Area companies participate in some form of commuter benefit program. Some of them do it by choice, others, by local mandates, known as Transit Benefit Ordinances. Or TBO's.. Stuart Baker/CommuterCheck: "A transit benefit ordinance is a requirement for employers to offer a program to their employees that can be a pre tax transit benefit, a subsidy program, or employer provided transportation." Richmond, SF, Berkeley and SFO have all passed this legislation. San Jose and Oakland are next. They're expected to have their programs up and running by 2011. Commuters save money, communities reduce traffic, and participating companies can claim corporate, social and/or economic responsibility - Safeway among them. DJ Mohr/Safeway: "It shows people that Safeway does care about the high cost of transportation." The bottomline, however, is still the bottomline. Stuart Baker/CommuterCheck: "What's not to like about a 40% discount off your BART fare?" For more information, click on www.bart.gov/tickets/benefits/index.aspx www.commutercheck.com , https://www.wageworks.com/home.aspx
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
" Hello maam, Would you like an eco-friendly recycling bag?"
She said 'Yes", as did hundreds of other Oakland commuters recently given a chance to "double their green".
With the help of BART, the City of Oakland is encouraging residents to take their current BYOB efforts one step further.
The message: Take BART to shop - wherever you shop - and bring your own bag when you do.
Oakland's vice-mayor took the lead...
Ignacio De La Fuente/Oakland Vice Mayor: " It's a way that we can keep our natural resources for our future and the
future of our children but it is good policy and all of it is connected. We want people out of their cars we want people to
use public transportation and we want to use these bags so we don't continue to destroy mother earth."
Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: " I just feel that this is one of the very significant and the most significant project
that BART and the city has and if we can work with this together, we can just be eco-friendly and create a safer environment
and we must do that for our future generations."
The vice president of the BART Board drove the point home.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Vice President: " BART serves 8 different areas in Oakland, we have 8 stops like we do in
San Franciscoand there's opportunities to go shopping around those BART stations. However you get there, hopefully
by BART, you'll bring your own bagwhen you go shopping."
Commuters we spoke with were happy to oblige.
" Recycling is good because it helps out the environment. When you can recycle and reuse it, I'm all for it."
"I don't like the idea of plastic bags sitting in landfills for a really long time and I often see them stuck in the tops of trees.
You know the wind blows them and they're really ugly and I guess they never break down."
" We messed up this whole World so the least I can do is recycle. I'm glad you gave this to me."
So, too, is the man on the receiving end of far too many plastic bags.
David Tucker/Waste Mgmt of Alameda Co. " We spend an enormous amount of time trying to collect plastic bags at the
landfill that blow in the wind and at our transfer stations they gum up our system and clog the sorters and recycling
machinery."
BART is attacking the problem on several fronts. Aside from partnering with Oakland to get the BYOB word out, it's also
quietly taking those trouble making plastic bags and turning them into rail ties. 14 thousand rail ties, to be exact.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Vice President: " Over the next couple years, we're going to be using 35 million recycled bags
to strengthen our rails that we run our BART trains on."
That's 35 million bags that won't end up in landfills.
" I'm going to clip it on right there. Then when you go shopping...I need a bag! Oh my bags right there. When you open it up,
the pocket stays inside the bag. You don't lose it. Always neat, always clean. Take them with you when you go shopping."
Brooke Levin/Assistant Director of Oakland Public Works: " Help save the enviroment by taking little incremental steps.
Bring your own bag to work, to play, to shop. And make an individual difference every day."
For more information on Oakland's Bring Your Own Bag campaign, click on www.OaklandRecycles.com
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
" Hello maam, Would you like an eco-friendly recycling bag?"
She said 'Yes", as did hundreds of other Oakland commuters recently given a chance to "double their green".
With the help of BART, the City of Oakland is encouraging residents to take their current BYOB efforts one step further.
The message: Take BART to shop - wherever you shop - and bring your own bag when you do.
Oakland's vice-mayor took the lead...
Ignacio De La Fuente/Oakland Vice Mayor: " It's a way that we can keep our natural resources for our future and the
future of our children but it is good policy and all of it is connected. We want people out of their cars we want people to
use public transportation and we want to use these bags so we don't continue to destroy mother earth."
Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: " I just feel that this is one of the very significant and the most significant project
that BART and the city has and if we can work with this together, we can just be eco-friendly and create a safer environment
and we must do that for our future generations."
The vice president of the BART Board drove the point home.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Vice President: " BART serves 8 different areas in Oakland, we have 8 stops like we do in
San Franciscoand there's opportunities to go shopping around those BART stations. However you get there, hopefully
by BART, you'll bring your own bagwhen you go shopping."
Commuters we spoke with were happy to oblige.
" Recycling is good because it helps out the environment. When you can recycle and reuse it, I'm all for it."
"I don't like the idea of plastic bags sitting in landfills for a really long time and I often see them stuck in the tops of trees.
You know the wind blows them and they're really ugly and I guess they never break down."
" We messed up this whole World so the least I can do is recycle. I'm glad you gave this to me."
So, too, is the man on the receiving end of far too many plastic bags.
David Tucker/Waste Mgmt of Alameda Co. " We spend an enormous amount of time trying to collect plastic bags at the
landfill that blow in the wind and at our transfer stations they gum up our system and clog the sorters and recycling
machinery."
BART is attacking the problem on several fronts. Aside from partnering with Oakland to get the BYOB word out, it's also
quietly taking those trouble making plastic bags and turning them into rail ties. 14 thousand rail ties, to be exact.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Vice President: " Over the next couple years, we're going to be using 35 million recycled bags
to strengthen our rails that we run our BART trains on."
That's 35 million bags that won't end up in landfills.
" I'm going to clip it on right there. Then when you go shopping...I need a bag! Oh my bags right there. When you open it up,
the pocket stays inside the bag. You don't lose it. Always neat, always clean. Take them with you when you go shopping."
Brooke Levin/Assistant Director of Oakland Public Works: " Help save the enviroment by taking little incremental steps.
Bring your own bag to work, to play, to shop. And make an individual difference every day."
For more information on Oakland's Bring Your Own Bag campaign, click on www.OaklandRecycles.com
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
BART is going to use these....to do this:
Lift a 25 ton rail car.
More than 900 solar panels installed at the Richmond yard will provide enough power to lift rail cars and peform other essential maintenance work.
BART is also replacing lighting at the shop with more energy efficient bulbs, slashing energy usage by a third.
Projects like this could save BART 3.4 million dollars over the next 20 years while giving BART a stable, green source of energy.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Member
Electricity costs can go up dramatically and it's important that we have a diversified portfolio of where we get our energy."
SunEdison is paying for the installation of the solar panels here at Richmond, the Hayward shop and at Orinda Station, where solar panel canopies will cover 40 parking spots.
Gail Murray/BART Board Member
The benefit to the people in Orinda is that 40 of those people will have covered parking now and the other benefit is that the Orinda Station will be powered almost entirely by those solar panels."
The BART Board's sustainability committee hopes this is just the beginning.
The sun will run our station and that will be a demonstration of things we'll be able to do at other BART stations."
I think it sends an important message that we're trying to be a green organization, and trying to let people know that BART is an energy efficient, more energy efficent way to travel than driving in the Bay Area."
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Ralph Peet/BART Rider: " Definitely don't polute, that's definitely a no no."
There's little doubt many BART customers are concerned about global warming.
Gail Husson/BART Rider:" I feel like we should be doing as much as we can to prevent it."Nishant Greg/BART Rider:" I think it's a fairly common truth today that, yea, it exists and we have to do something about it."Now there's a way for riders to find out just how much they're contributing to the solution.It's called the carbon calculator and it's now part of BART.gov's Quickplanner. Steve Beroldo/Research Projects Analyst:" It takes the distanceof that trip and makes an estimate of how much CO2 would've been admitted had they used a car for that trip rather than BART and then providese them with an estimate of CO2 reduced."If you take just one trip on BART, it won't make a huge difference...but if you take BART each weekday for a year instead of driving, you can save nearly 6,000 pounds of airpolluting carbon dioxide.Nishant Greg/BART Rider:" Wow! That's huge."Ralph Peet/BART Rider: " Well I catch the BART all the time so that's a good thing."And carbon dioxide is by far the largest component of greenhouse gases.Steve Beroldo/Research Projects Analyst:" I think a lot of our passengers are concerned about the environment and it's good for us to provide them with an estimate of what it means to take BART rather than driving their car."
for more BART eco facts, check out BARTtv's Go Green category.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Naji Trufant/BART Rider:
"I love recycling. I recycle a lot. I recycle anything from plastic bags to cloth to clothing to ...you name it!"
Most BART riders agree: recycling is worth the effort.
Alyssa Coutre/BART Rider
"That's what today's world is all about. It's recycling, and you know, it's coming up with...it's a team effort!"
You can be part of the team too.
if you're one of the tens of thousands of people who bring newspapers on board BART trains, take your newspaper with you.
There are recycling bins on the concourse level of each station.
"As we encourage all people to recycle, we do that here at BART."
If you're finished with your newspaper, toss in the bin and we'll take care of it.
And, for the less conscientious people who simply leave their newspapers and trash on the train...well, we take care of that too.
Jeff Baker/Asst. Maintenance Supt.
"For instance, in our Richmond yard, we have 10 recycling bins that get emptied every day so there is a tremendous amount of trash that is pulled off of our BART trains and ultimately we recycle a lot of the newspapers that come through the BART system."
Recyling the trash is an extra step, but one BART is willing to take to help the environment.
We even recyle cans and bottles - even though drinking on BART is against the law.
"Newspapers are the most commonly recycled item on BART. What's the most uncommon?"
"I don't know how they decided to roll it up into a train and leave it there but we found auto tires on the train."
It goes without saying but we'll say it anyway....please take your old auto tires to a proper recycling facility...and stash your newspapers in our recycling bins.
Jim Allison, BARTtv news
Remember what Mom always said about sharing, how great it is?
Well Fiona Murphy listened.
Fiona shares cars with other members of Zipcar.
It's a service that provides pay-as-you-go vehicles.
Sharing cars works so well for Fiona that she's ditched the hassles and costs of car ownership.
You'll find Zipcars at seven BART stations.
Jennifer Payne-Sleight/Zipcar
"We like to say we're the last mile in public transit so we, you know, once you get off at that BART station then you can actually pick up that car and maby go those extra few miles."
Fiona joined Zipcar online, so now she can reserve a car and use it only when she needs it.
"It's nice to be able to vary your plan accordingly to what your needs are are, it's a very flexible, available policy."
There are hundreds of Zipcars at locations throughout the Bay Area, but, as more people are learning, the combination of BART and shared cars is an especially convenient option.
"42% of Zipcar members increased their public transit use in conjunction with Zipcars."
Zipcar even features environmentally-friendly hybrids for those of us looking to soften our carbon footprint.
Our target is to be that convenient so people can either live without a vehicle or even choose to not drive a vehicle into the city or even ideally not have one car per household." Check Zipcar locations or even sign up by clicking on the link in the text version of this story.
Soon you could be zipping along the road minutes after stepping off a BART train.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Update on Citizen Oversight of BART Police
Dozens of community members have volunteered their input into BART's effort to ensure that the District learns and improves from the tragedy of January 1, 2009.
It was in the early morning hours of New Years Day that now former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle fatally shot passenger Oscar Grant on the platform of Fruitvale Station after Grant was involved in a fight on a train.
BART Board Member Tom Radulovich
"In the aftermath of the Oscar Grant shooting, we've not only looked at what happened that night on that platform, we have looked at every aspect of policing at BART."
Among the many actions BART has taken since the shooting: creating committee of the full Board called the BART Police Department Review Committee.
One of its tasks was to develop citizen oversight of the BART Police Department.
The committee spent weeks holding a series of meetings, gathering input from the community.
"My last question is: if this model is approved as it is written, is the Board empowered to replace or reprimand the General Manager or the Chief?"
In fact, some of the most impassioned community members even served on the subcommittee that examined existing citizen oversight models to help draft the BART structure.
Minister Keith Muhammad/Nation of Islam
"We are seeking justice in permanent systemic change."
On August 13th, the full Board adopted the committee's model of citizen oversight.
It creates a board-appointed independent auditor position and an 11 member citizen board to review BART police policies, procedures and to recommend changes.
Both the auditor and citizen board would also review complaints against officers.
BART Board Member Joel Keller
I don't think good police officers have anything to fear from citizen oversight. It's just another layer of protection for them."
The independent auditor and the citizen board would each have a role in recommending discipline against officers.
The citizen board could appeal discipline decisions all the way to the Board of Directors where the full Board would have the final say.
Currently state law neither permits the Board to make discipline decisions nor allows the Board to appoint an independent auditor, so there must be a change to the BART act.
BART Board Member Carole Ward Allen
"Without state lawmakers amending the BART Act, we cannot take this next step toward citizens oversight."
Unfortunately, state lawmakers did not consider amending the BART Act during the 2009 legislative sesson.
Nonetheless, BART Board members are resolute in seeing citizens oversight move forward.
BART Board Member Lynette Sweet
"We're committed and we want to make sure that what happend on January first, from the perspective of this Director and my colleagues, doesn't come back to us in the same way ever again."
The focus for citizens oversight now shifts to the 2010 legislative session.
You can review the Board-adopted structure of citizen oversight by clicking on www.bart.gov.
Jim Allison BARTtv News.
Thank you all for coming. Good evening. I'm sorry for bringing you out for this situation.
On behalf of the BART Police Department and the entire BART organization, I want to express our deepest condolences to the family of Oscar Grant. I want to assure Mr. Grant's family and the public that we're taking this investigation very seriously and we're committed to complete an unbiased, thorough, detailed investigation on that early morning of New Year's Day. In addition to our investigation, we are cooperating fully with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and it's independent investigation. We're providing all evidence that we have to the District Attorney. This investigation is not even four days cold. We're in the early stages of the investigation and we will do a very thorough job. We're reviewing all the evidence including any videos that have been submitted, or that we can gather; witness statements and physical evidence as we compile the accurate account of what happened.
As frustrating as this is, I want to stress that we cannot and will not jeopardize this case by discussing details before the investigation is completed. And while some have already begun to draw conclusions, or speculate what happened that evening, that morning rather, before the facts are in, and in doing so, could compromise independent recollections from witnesses and in the end will do disservice in getting to the truth and the answers that we're all seeking.
We continue to elicit and ask people to come forward if they have any evidence or eyewitness accounts. They can call our tip line. It's a toll-free number 877-679-7000 and then press 7040 and that goes directly into the BART Police Department's criminal investigations section and they're taking the lead in doing the investigation from the Department's standpoint. Or, witnesses or informants could call directly to the District Attorney's Office and their general number is 510-272-6222. We ask for the public to be patient. Please refrain from jumping to any conclusions and allow the investigators to do their jobs.
As has been previously stated, there is very little information that can be released at this time. I can, however, provide some basic facts and they are: We are investigating an early morning incident New Year's Day at the Fruitvale BART Station in which Mr. Grant was fatally wounded. The involved officer is a two year veteran with the BART Police Department. That officer underwent mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to being sent home and he is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
The incident began when BART Police received a report that two groups of riders were involved in a physical altercation on a train after it left West Oakland Station around 2:00 AM. BART Police Officers responded to the platform at Fruitvale and detained several persons. Our preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Grant was not in handcuffs or restrained at the time of the shooting. I cannot tell you when this investigation will be completed and we're going to pursue every lead and keep the tip line open and again we're going to encourage the public to give us information.
Again, I do assure you that we're committed to conducting an accurate and thorough investigation. We recognize that it is frustrating that we cannot answer many of your questions right now. By doing so could lead to speculation and compromise integrity of the ongoing investigations. So, again, please be patient and I thank you for attending.
Reporter: Chief Gee, do you have a reaction to a $25 million lawsuit and the call for the officer to be charged with a crime?
Chief Gee: I'm not aware of any lawsuit that's been filed.
Reporter: They announced that they plan to file one.
Chief Gee: That won't interfere with or impede or affect any way that we look at this. We examine the facts, we complete the investigation, present it to the District Attorney's office, and the facts will speak for themselves.
Reporter: The attorney for the family is asking the District Attorney to file second-degree murder charges against your police officer.
Chief Gee: That's the DA's call. The DA will look at all the reports, including its own, and come to a conclusion as to what criminal charges, if any, are filed.
Reporter: Chief, when was the last time there an officer-involved shooting for BART police?
Chief Gee: Seven and a half years ago, the latter part of May, perhaps May 28, 2001, at Hayward Station.
Reporter: Where do BART policemen get their training?
Chief Gee: It depends. We hire officers with experience from other law enforcement agencies. We hire officers who have graduated from regional academies that are certified through the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and we hire candidates off the street, if you will, and we send them to those regional academies. It's the same training that any peace officer in California is required to complete, plus we have our own in-service training on search and rescue and the nuances of working in a transit system.
Reporter: Chief, you've seen the video, what is your reaction to that video?
Chief Gee: I've only seen a video and the quality of that video, it's very difficult for me to draw any conclusions.
Reporter: Do you have indication that this shooting was accidental?
Chief Gee: It's premature for me to say that.
Reporter: Have you spoken to the officer?
Chief Gee: No, I have not. He's on administrative leave. We respect his privacy. He will be interviewed as part of the investigations and that's after which, perhaps I'll get a chance to talk to him.
Reporter: Are you identifying him, now?
Chief Gee: No, not at this time.
Reporter: What are officers armed with?
Chief Gee: Our department issue is a 40 caliber SIG-Sauer model 226 semi-automatic pistol.
Reporter: Do they also have a taser gun?
Chief Gee: We do have tasers, but not every officer is issued one.
Reporter: What about this police officer?
Chief Gee: I'm not positive. I don't know what he was issued and I....tasers are issued as officers come on duty and then they hand them off to someone else. They turn them in at the end of the shift.
Reporter: Do they look similar? Are they similar in...
Chief Gee: A taser is shaped like a gun and so, in some ways it looks similar.
Reporter: Are they, where are they in relation to each other on belt?
Chief Gee: On the opposite side of where the duty weapon is.
Reporter: What else can you tell us more about this police officer? Two years, was he hired from another police department, did he come straight out of the academy, could you tell us a little bit more about this police officer?
Chief Gee: He as an academy gradudate. He put himself through the academy and we hired him out of an academy.
Reporter: How old is he?
Chief Gee: I don't recall. I don't know.
Reporter: So, does that mean he didn't work somewhere else?
Chief Gee: He did not work somewhere else.
Reporter: He came through the BART academy?
Chief Gee: BART does not have its own academy, again, we use regional law enforcement academies whether they're from the sheriff's department, through a community college and once they've graduated, they go through an in-service orientation training program, and then field training and he completed all those phases.
Reporter: Do you have any indication that if Mr. Grant was posing some sort of threat to the officer? You said that he was not handcuffed. Was he lying down? Face down?
Chief Gee: I'll be honest with you. From the video that I saw and we only have one video that we have in our evidence, it's very difficult to tell what his actual body position was as the officers were trying to take him into custody.
Reporter: And was he posing a threat to the officers?
Chief Gee: It's too soon to say. I can't say that at this time.
Reporter: Any idea how long the investigation, I mean, from your department's standpoint, how long the investigation until it lasts, until you get some kind of results?
Chief Gee: These things can take months because it involves department personnel, they're much more easily accessible, so we hope to complete the investigation sooner than later. As if, it involved members of the public that we had to seek and bring in or subpoena or try to find, so, we're hoping that in a matter of the next few or several and whatever that means that we can complete this. We're as anxious to complete this, but we're not going to compromise any detail or overlook anything that's important to ensure that we have a complete package to bring to the DA.
Reporter: Chief, the tape that you're describing having watched, that's different than the one that's aired on television, correct?
Chief Gee: I'm not certain, to be honest with you. Because I don't know who else has a copy of what our tape....
Reporter: I can show you....
Reporter: Where is this copy from? Is it from a surveillance camera from BART?
Chief Gee: No, it's from a member of the public who surrendered the tape to the police, so I don't know, I can say that on news coverage that I saw last night, on the 10:00 News, without giving a plug to anybody, it was not the same tape.
Reporter: But the tape that you saw was also a direct shot of.....
Chief Gee: It was an indirect shot and it was a handheld one, probably from a camera, I believe. I'm not sure. I mean, from a cell phone camera.
Reporter: So, it appears that it was confiscated that morning, it sounds like?
Chief Gee: It was. It was surrendered that morning. Yes.
Reporter: You've also seen the one that was on Channel 2 last night?
Chief Gee: Yes.
Reporter: And then also, you think that it was inconclusive?
Chief Gee: I think that it's inconclusive. We need to talk to all the officers and especially the primary, the subject officer.
Reporter: Have you figured out if anyone was armed?
Chief Gee: Nobody was armed.
Reporter: Chief, do you know anything about, whether or not Oakland Police were responding to that incident and whether or not your officers refused their assistance that night and told them to leave?
Chief Gee: I'm not aware of the latter part of your question, Mike. I do know that when the officers arrived, they felt like they were outnumbered, so they did call for other backup and that's what brought Oakland P.D. to the station. I can't imagine having done so that they would not want their assistance.
Reporter: Was he cuffed after he was shot?
Chief Gee: I don't know, but that is a procedure that we're taught to do. I'm not certain about in this case.
Reporter: Wait, what's the procdure?
Chief Gee: That after a person is shot it is part of standard procedure to handcuff the person until you're certain that the threat, that there's not threat and the person isn't armed.
Reporter: Are officers trained or instructed to perform any medical care to people who are shot?
Chief Gee: Well, they, we're taught basic first aid and CPR but certainly are not equipped to handle gunshots. So, to that extent, no.
Reporter: Today at a press conference with the family and their attorney, they claim that there was some hateful statements from police to the person who was shot and some racial slurs.
Chief Gee: I'm not aware of any of that and none of that has been reported to the department and if person who witnessed/heard such statements made, we would want to have that as well.
Reporter: Chief, I obviously hear a lot of cameras here and this is a pretty important issue. I just wonder how do you feel? I mean, knowing that there's a $25M lawsuit and uh, folks are asking for criminal charges on the family's side. How do you feel about that?
Chief Gee: Well, how I feel about this is I deal with any investigation that our commitment is to provide law enforcement services and to protect and serve the BART District, it's riders, it's employees and as in any investigation we're going to conduct a full one and whatever the outcome is based on the facts, I will accept.
Reporter: Chief, does your officer go to the range. I'm just wondering if this officer has fired his weapon since he actually became a BART police officer.
Chief Gee: Yes, we're required to have two mandatory range dates every year where an officer must qualify with his or her handgun or shotgun, other less lethal weapons. We go through a full range program through the sheriff's ranges.
Thank you very much.
Representatives from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) present their findings on the BART Police Department to the BART Board of Directors during the Board's Oct 1, 2009 meeting.
Community Leaders Join BART Board In Urging Lawmakers To Approve Citizen Oversight Of BART Police
Call for action for Citizen Oversight of the BART Police Department
BOARD MARKS MAJOR MILESTONE BY ADOPTING CITIZEN OVERSIGHT OF BART PD
STATE LAWMAKERS URGED TO FINALIZE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT
In a unanimous vote, the BART Board of Directors reached a major milestone August 13, 2009 in delivering on its commitment to improve police services and public confidence by approving independent citizen oversight of the BART Police Department.
“Today’s Board action is truly historic,” BART Board Member Carole Ward Allen said. Ward Allen chairs the BART Police Department Review Committee, which Board President Thomas Blalock created following the January 1 shooting of Oscar Grant on the platform of Fruitvale Station by a former police officer. “What we approved today has one of the strongest components of citizen oversight in the state of California. The process now moves to the state legislature. We urge our state representatives to take swift action so we can implement citizen oversight this year as we continue to work to make the BART Police Department the best it can be.”
“We have a dedicated, professional and highly trained police force at BART and we want to keep it that way,” Director Joel Keller said. Keller is the vice chair of the committee. “Citizen oversight, if done properly, can help us achieve that.”
BART NEEDS CHANGE IN STATE LAW TO MOVE FORWARD
BART is a special district created by the state legislature and requires an amendment of the BART Act to create citizen oversight as adopted by the Board today.
The citizen oversight the Board adopted encompasses two major areas where legislative change is required to meet its stated purpose. The first area involves the creation of the position of independent police auditor. Because the auditor would report directly to the Board, the position requires an amendment to the BART Act.
The second area requires amending the General Manager’s authority to provide for a role for the auditor and the board in the discipline process for members of the police department. In BART’s newly adopted citizen review, both the independent auditor and the Board would each have a role in recommending discipline, which also requires an amendment to the BART Act.
“We are only seeking permissive changes to state law,” BART Board Member Tom Radulovich said. Radulovich has been a long supporter of BART Police citizen oversight and sits on the BART Police Department Review Committee. “The citizen oversight we adopted today is based on what members of the community have told us they want. It incorporates the community’s needs and the best elements of the various citizen oversight entities at police departments around the Bay Area and beyond.”
CITIZEN OVERSIGHT RESULT OF COMMUNITY INPUT
The Board adopted the citizen oversight model after months of careful study of existing citizen oversight entities and by hearing from the community at public meetings and through written comments.
“Today’s action sends a clear message that this Board is committed to fulfilling its promises,” BART Board Member Lynette Sweet said. Sweet also sits on the BART Police Department Review Committee. “We told the community we would adopt a strong citizen oversight of BART Police this year, and today we delivered on that promise. Now we need help from state legislators to amend the law so we can implement citizen oversight.”
CITIZEN OVERSIGHT MODEL AVAILABLE ONLINE
The citizen oversight model adopted by the Board is available online at www.BART.gov
BART Board Members, GM and Oakland Mayor Speak on Behalf of Oakland Airport Connector at MTC Meeting
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission on January 27, 2010 voted 11 to 5 to continue to support the Oakland Airport Connector project until at least February 17 while BART works with the Federal Transit Administration to resolve Civil Rights Title VI issues. Among those speaking on behalf of the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) were Board President James Fang, Directors Carole Ward Allen and Joel Keller, BART General Manager Dorothy Dugger and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums.
James Fang/BART Board President
Thank you Chairman Haggarty. Thank you members of the Port and MTC. I realize this is a very difficult decision, but I just want to say first I am here at the President of BART. We have asked Vice-President and we have a representative of each of the three BART counties here to express support for particularly the whole amount but option 1. We think this is one of the best regional projects for this bay area county. This will not only create jobs, it will also create stability, I believe, is where it's being built. BART staff has assured me and I am fully confident we will meet this deadline that you've put together and we're going to work very hard with FTA to get this thing done. This thing was brought on us about a week and a half ago. I think we are reacting very well. The timing is difficult, but we have had such a wonderful history between BART and MTC cooperation. What we're asking for is an opportunity to make sure that the technicalities that I humbly believe is what they are can get resolved. As an American of Asian ancestry, I too feel the bite and the sarcasm and the insincerity of this complaint.
Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member
Good Morning. I am Carole Ward Allen, BART Director for District 4. The Oakland Airport Connector is in my District and I support it 100%. I am here today with a coalition of community, labor, business and religious leaders to ask you for your continued support. We are so close to the finish line. On a day when the headlines are filled with Obama's push for jobs, this region has a project which will deliver critical needed jobs. As you commissioners understand better than anyone, the OAC project was not conceived or imagined over night. It has been decades in the making. I've personally been involved for over 20 years working on this project to make this legacy project, if built, and that it will serve for generations to come. It is a thoroughly evaluated, publicly supported and highly anticipated project. The voters had expressed their strong commitment to the project by approving local funds. There has been strong commitment to community participation. Oddly, it has taken the economic downturn to prompt the final pieces so that we can move it forward. We have come a great distance in just one year. We've had 17 public hearings securing approval and agreements signed by four major bodies: The Port of Oakland, MTC, BART and the City of Oakland. And we even signed BART's first project labor agreement. Because of our commitment to social justice goals to ensure intern opportunities, local hire and strong DBE component. All total, this project will create between 2,500 to 5,200 much needed jobs. Frankly, as an African-American woman, who has dedicated my life to fighting for civil rights, I'm offended that the project proponents would use Title VI to kill this project. BART is committed to equity for all and fairness for all in the community and all residents in the bay area. Clearly, we have more work to do, and believe me, we will get it done. If I have to assist in helping writing it myself, we're going to get it done. We are truly committed to the objective under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the other programs administered by the FTA's Office of Civil Rights and we will do whatever FTA requires. Currently, BART is working very hard, we've worked on many programs that have included the community. Thank you very much and we look for your support.
Joel Keller/BART Board Member
Good morning Chair Haggarty and Members of the Commission. My name is Joel Keller and I'm on the BART Board of Directors representing East Contra Costa County. My constituents have long awaited to go to the airport. They have a lot of traffic to navigate through and while we love that we have direct connections to San Francisco Airport on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line, we are thrilled to have convenient transit connection to the Oakland Airport. It makes Oakland a much more attractive option and puts Oakland on an equal footing with SFO. This is another of many for both businesses and leisure travelers and is a convenient option. Business travelers think of SFO as the airport that serves San Francisco. Now Oakland will be seen as the airport that serves the rest of the bay area. That's for the long run. The short run, this project provides thousands of job opportunities. It will put our region to work quickly. It helps put our people to work, providing roofs over their heads and food on their tables. I am proud that this project also includes an historic project labor agreement which ensures that 25% of the construction work will go to Oakland residents and ensures that job training program are created to provide opportunities for under skilled workers. I just encourage you to follow staff recommendations.
Dorothy Dugger/BART General Manager
Good morning Mr. Chairman Haggarty, Members of the Commission. You have heard in the past and will not doubt hear today lots of testimony about the benefits of this project including the critically needed jobs in this generation. In the sake of time, I will not reiterate those benefits, in deed, you know them and that is the reason that you latched your directed stimulus and other critical funds to make this project implementable. My purpose today is to address the title VI, and let me express again on behalf of BART and the region, our appreciation for that leadership. My purpose today is to address Title VI issues raised in Administrator Rogoff's letter and to tell you how we are addressing them. First I'd like to put them in context. The compliance review conducted in mid-December on our agency is the first we have had under new FTA Title VI Guidance issued in a mid-2007 circular. According to our records, we have had no prior Title VI findings or deficiencies in any of the triennial audits conducted by the FTA of our activities over the past decade. This audit did, however, raise deficiencies and we now addressing them. As expressed in our response to the Administrator and as you will hear from Board Members of the BART Board today, we are, as an organization, and personally committed to meeting with the requirements of Title VI. On a personal note, as a child growing up in the Civil Rights South, where I learned my politics and my commitment to public service, I not only have that responsibility in my professional position, but in my personal beliefs as well. The report from your staff describes the Title VI equity analysis that we must conduct for the service and fare changes associated with the connector project and the requirement to mitigate any disparate impact that analysis may identify. As your Executive Director has said, while the equity analysis does require the examination of alternatives available for people affected by the fare increase or major service change, it is our understanding of the regulations that this analysis does require a re-examination of alternatives to the project itself. There are also Title VI issues unrelated to this project which we must address as part of the action plan that we will submit to FTA. These include, to give you a flavor of them, the need to expand and enhance our policy to finding a major service change and articulate the procedures for analyzing and mitigating any disparate impacts of that major service change. Documentations of steps to seek out and consider the viewpoints of minorities and low income populations in developing this policy. We also must conduct an equity analysis of our 2009 fare increase. We must ensure an ongoing inclusive inputting including low income and minority populations, in transit decisions including documentation of these efforts. And we must expand our limited English Proficiency Program. And finally, we need to evaluate our established service standards and document our ongoing procedures for monitoring those standards to assure no disparate impact. We have been engaged actively with FTA headquarters staff over the seven working days since we received the Administrator's letter. We have brought on experienced consulting resources to assist us in developing and implementing the required action plan. These consultants supported Houston Metro, another agency who earlier this year also was one of the first agencies in the country to undergo a compliance audit under the new circular. Their efforts to respond to the findings that they received from that compliance review were successful. They included the same steps. The development of an action plan, the conduct of an equity analysis. These consultants know the methodology. They have worked with the FTA Headquarters staff and I am confident that they bring us critically important resources to be successful. The schedule that the MTC staff is recommending is aggressive for all parties. We are committing the time and the resources to meet our schedule. We plan to submit a draft plan to FTA this week. We are scheduled to meet by conference call with them by the end of this week and we will submit a final plan for their review next week. As I say, this is an aggressive schedule. We are committed to providing the resources, the energy, the time. We will be working all weekend to get this done. We appreciate your continued support in enabling us all in the region - the many partners who are committed to delivering this project for the benefit of the region for generations to come. Thank you very much.
Mayor Ron Dellums/City of Oakland
"Title VI at the end of the day was designed to challenge large organizations to change. And that ultimately is what needs to happen here."
"Now I read with great interest every word of the report that your able staff just presented to you. Finally laying out two options. Their final staff recommendation was take option one with caveat with modification. I think that this a prudent course to take because A, it provides an opportunity to Bay Area Rapid Transit and FTA to sit down to engage in a very serious effort to bring this project forward to resolve these matters. I think that speaks to fairness. I think that speaks to equity. I think that speaks to justice. Because at the end of the day, we want this matter resolved."
"Title VI is not simply about punishment, it is about resolving and change. It let's it go forward as a community committed to that."
Oakland Airport Connector Advocates Hold News Conference
On December 10th, the BART Board of Directors is scheduled to consider awarding contracts for the Oakland Airport Connector project. This is animation of what the connector could look like. For more information on the Oakland Airport Connector, click on http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/oac
April 21, 2009 BART held and industry forum for potential bidders on the Oakland Airport Connector Project. Video from the forum is posted in seven segments.
This is the first of seven segments.
April 21, 2009 BART held and industry forum for potential bidders on the Oakland Airport Connector Project. Video from the forum is posted in seven segments.
This is the second of seven segments.
Take BART to the San Francisco Symphony
Louisa Spier/San Francisco Symphony
There's a magic that happens when musicians, really incredibly trained and talented musicians, perform in front of a live audience."
With more than 220 performances a year, there are plenty of opporunities for you to experience the magic of the San Francisco Symphony.
"Bill Ritchen/SF Symphony Bassist
"The great thing with the San Francisco Symphony in the 25 years that I've been here is the willingness to change."
The San Francisco Symphony is widely considered to be among the country's most adventurous arts institutions, but getting there on BART is hardly an adventure.
In fact, it's downright easy.
Michael Hing/San Francisco
"I think it's the convenience, going from the office, the BART station is right outside my office building, and then it lets you right out here at the Civic Center so it's a great commute, very fast, very simple"
Take BART to Civic Center Station, exit at Grove and Market streets and follow Grove Street to Davies Symphony Hall.
Zac Morrison/Berkeley
"It's nice going by City Hall, I feel safe, there's security around, so it's nice."
Think the symphony is stuffy?
Think again.
The symphony recently began a series of after-concert parties featuring musicians from the orchestra performing non-classical music.
There are breathtaking views to enjoy and...it's free with a symphony ticket.
"I don't think there are two many symphony orchestras that have tried this kind of thing, getting younger audiences involved, getting people who like different styles of music other than classical music involved in the orchestra, it's a wonderful thing that's going on."
"It's a great opportunity for newcomers to the San Francisco Symphony to perhaps hear music they're more familiar with as well as a concert orchestra and, if they have a drink, they're in good hands taking BART home."
Maybe your style is taking the kids out instead of late night cocktails.
The San Francisco Symphony is very kid friendly. Since the San Francisco symphony was founded in 1911, almost 100 years ago, we have been performing concerts with young listeners in mind. We currently offer, concerts for kids, we have a music for family's series, we have heritage concerts."
For ticket information and much more on the symphony, click on http://www.sfsymphony.org/
And, if you decide to pay a visit to this BARTable destination, make sure you let the musicians know if you've enjoyed the concert.
The applause that we receive at the end of performances is the world to us."
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Art in the Atrium.
It has a nice ring to it.
And it's perfect for busy BART riders who have just a moment to spare at SFMOMA.
"John Zarobell/Atrium Commission Assistant Curator
You can walk into the atrium, look up, bingo there they are.
spend a few minutes, you can take a brochure, and then you can move off and be on your way to the convention or lunch or whatever you come down here for."
But the two huge murals by artist Kerry James Marshall may just stop you in your tracks for a while.
"What you see are two landscapes that are strangely populated. However, it's not all easy to find. The artist isn't doing the work for you. He sort of leaves you information and produces a kind of game so you can decode the information he's put up there."
The murals not only depict the estates of founding fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson but the slaves who supported plantation life.
Like their role in much of written American history, the slaves in the artwork are concealed.
"This material in this mural is somewhat controversial. And that's something the artist has designed as part of his work. And as a contemporary museum, we are very committed to engaging with those issues that artists introduce."
The idea is to the use the atrium as a forum for public art.
Entrance into SFMOMA's Atrium is free, and it's an easy walk from BART's Montgomery Street Station to 147 Minna Street.
You can see the murals of Kerry James Marshall until 2010.
SFMOMA has some big exhibitions coming up - check www.myBART.org for possible discounts.
And check www.SFMOMA.com for the hours and ticket information for all that SFMOMA has to offer.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Transport yourself in time....or in thought....to Berkeley Repertory Theater, just steps from the Downtown Berkeley Station.
Megan Wygant/Berkeley Repertory Theatre
"We consistently produce some of the most innovative and experimental work in the Bay Area. We do at least two or three world premieres each season. This season we're doing four."
Berkeley Rep's reputation is international - it won a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater - and it draws theater-goers from around the region.
"I think that about half of our audience would be from San Francisco"
Kevin Soriano is a theater -and BART- regular.
Kevin Soriano/San Francisco
"I've subscribed a few years ago and come to see five or six plays a season and I always take BART."
Meantime, Saint Mary's student Briana Ohene was among those who came to see a production of August Wilson's powerful play "Joe Turner's Come and Gone."
I came early because I was thinking I would get lost but when I got up here from BART I saw it right here. I said I'm early for no reason.
Early enough to enjoy everything the theater complex has to offer...and it's less than a block from BART.
Take BART to the Downtown Berkeley station and you're there.
I think if you factor in the cost of bridge tolls, the cost of parking the personal aggravation, it's sometimes easier to take BART.
For more information on Berkeley Rep, visit their website.
We've provided a link in the text version of this story.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
BART Stops Where You Shop
Whether you're one of those who can't wait to get started on holiday shopping...
"I'm so excited! I can't wait for the tree lighting."
or, like most of us....
"I just haven't started quite yet. That's going to be next week." and you're not quite ready.... BART will bring you to the doorstep of some of the Bay Area's best shopping.
BARTtv picked just three of the many shopping destinations to get you on your way.
First stop: Powell Street Station.
"I can get on BART and not have to go out in the rain to go to, say, Nordstrom in that center. It's easy and convenient."
CG: Karon Fields/Walnut Creek
Powell Street Station connects with the upscale shopping of Westfield's San Francisco Centre.
And the hustle and bustle of Union Square are just a couple of blocks away.
Take SOT Runs.. 0:00 .."
"My first time in the city was actually during the holidays and it just brings back those memories from freshman year. All my bags and my friends around me and everyone in the subway station, the BART station, has their bags and they're shopping too and the whole atmosphere is great."
Now let's head over to the East Bay.
A15646 07:24 to 07:31
CG: Anna Pekarek/Shopper
"I love this place. Why? I love Target."
Target is just one of the anchor stores at the Bayfair Center, which is connected to Bay Fair station by a short walkway.
CG: Gertie Williams/Hayward
"I live in Hayward and I take one stop and I'm at Bay Fair and there's all these stores. It's just so convenient and I feel so safe."
With over 50 shops, restaurants and more, you could spend an entire day at Bay Fair. But maybe you're looking for a more intimate shopping experience.
Mary Carpentier/Rockridge Market Hall
"This is based on a European style market feeling so you get your meat from one counter and your fish from another"
The Rockridge BART station is right across the street from College Avenue in Oakland, home to the Rockridge Market Hall and dozens of unique destinations for shoppers and foodies.
We've only scratched the surface. Find out more by clicking on http://www.mybart.org/destinations/
happy shopping!
Luna Salaver, BARTtv News.
Union Square is a BARTable Destination in the heart of San Francisco that's thoroughly modern and yet has been a centerpiece for as long as the city has existed.
"So this park was designated a park in 1847 when the streets were laid out and when San Francisco was just founded."
The square is a 2 and half acre plaza bordered with upscale shopping that draws both tourists and Bay Area residents, There's plenty to enjoy during summer months too, with free performances featuring a wide selection of entertainers.
"Anything from family entertainment to local performers to swing dancing, my personal favorite, to outdoor movies, which are truly fabulous."
Of course, during the holidays, Union Square is a shopper's paradise.
"It really is the first place I come to holiday shop, not only because I work here and it's convenient, but also because it really is the center of, not only fashion, retail, I mean you can find almost anything here."
And, it's just two blocks from here, the Powell Street station.
"And you can shop along the way, grab a bite to eat at a restaurant, or come and enjoy a free concert."
For more information click on http://www.unionsquarepark.us/
Vanessa Peng, BARTtv News.
Service through the Transbay Tube resumed Tuesday morning around 7:25 a.m., about an hour after it was halted when a nine-car train bound from Pittsburg/Bay Point to San Francisco International Airport uncoupled in the tube.
Cheif Spokesperson Linton Johnson provided this update to the media later in the day.
Augmented reality is coming to a BART station near you.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " It's all there. All the information you need: transportation, points of interest,the BART
stations."
BART is partnering with San Francisco-based junaio to integrate transit data - such as station locations and estimated arrivals - into a
BART channel on the junaio 2.0 augmented reality platform.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " Within this channel specifically, you get information relavent to only what you are
looking for.So if you are looking for a BART station - here's a BART staion. If you are looking for a train schedule - here's a train schedule.
If you want to know how to route from location A to location B - here's how you route it. So, it's all encompassing, you don't have to tap in
to different platforms to find the information. You can just tune in to one channel and it has all the information there for you."
Augmented reality - A-R for short - lets users see digital content such as text or graphics overlaid on real objects on their mobile phones.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " There we are, there's BART."
Junaio product marketing manager Lisa Murphy gave us a tour earlier this week to see how this free app will work for BART riders.
On San Francisco's busy Market Street, Murphy navigated to the BART channel for an instant check in real-time on when her train was
coming in to Embarcadero Station.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " SFO train in 12 minutes. I've got time to go to Peets for a cup of coffee."
Junaio also lets users tag photos, audio and text in the real world and leave digital "crumbs" behind at particular locations for others to
explore.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " One of my favorite things to do in San Francisoc is just go out and explore restraunts."
For example, Murphy is a foodie who loves the gourmet shops inside the Ferry Building.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " Food at Ferry is awesome."
She created a personal channel called "SF Eats" where she leaves tips for her friends - like trying the Cowgirl Creamery for a great
selection of cheeses.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " They can litterally point up their phone and be able to see this content and then pick
that up and be able to say "OK. Lisa, four meters away right now just left a message that says " Cowgirl Creamery - best cheese."
The BART channel gives tips for things to do near BART - like the San Francisco Railway Museum near Embarcadero Station, which
features historical artifacts and archival photos from San Francisco's rich rail history.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " It's a fun wayto go beyond the overlay of information that is useful, especially for
transportation, but it's fun to engage the users to go beyond just viewing the data but playing with the data as well."
Junaio is currently available free for iPhone 3GS and through a web interface, and a version for Android is in development.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " You get live feeds as to service advisories - no delays."
BART was one of the first transit agencies in the nation to provide schedule and real time data to developers. Today more than two dozen
innovative applications have been created using BART data. Click on link in the text version of this story www.BART.gov/apps for more
information.
Lisa Murphy/Junaio Product Marketing Manager: " You click on this and it says to Daly City in two minutes on platform one."
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
Mike Schwarz/The Cowen Group: "In this economy, it's all about saving money." Yes it is. And that's why Mike Schwarz of the Cowen Group signed on when his company started offering commuter benefits to offset the cost of mass transit. Mike Schwarz/The Cowen Group: "They're tax free, so in the end it's cheaper for me to commute. I'm taking BART that means I'm not driving my car as much and that's less I have to go to the gas station." Basically, The IRS lets commuters set aside pretax money to help pay for transit. Employees can deduct up to 230/month and use that money to pay for BART tickets. Brian Stone/The Cowen Group: "It's easy to allocate money for your transportation. Obviously, it comes off your taxable income at the end of the year which is the most beneficial part." When all is said and done, the savings can reach 40%. For businesses, it's a benefit that pays for itself. Stuart Baker/CommuterCheck: "Any money employees set aside in the program, employers do not pay any payroll tax. This is essentially a free benefit for employers, that's why it's really popular." And getting more so. Already, 10-thousand Bay Area companies participate in some form of commuter benefit program. Some of them do it by choice, others, by local mandates, known as Transit Benefit Ordinances. Or TBO's.. Stuart Baker/CommuterCheck: "A transit benefit ordinance is a requirement for employers to offer a program to their employees that can be a pre tax transit benefit, a subsidy program, or employer provided transportation." Richmond, SF, Berkeley and SFO have all passed this legislation. San Jose and Oakland are next. They're expected to have their programs up and running by 2011. Commuters save money, communities reduce traffic, and participating companies can claim corporate, social and/or economic responsibility - Safeway among them. DJ Mohr/Safeway: "It shows people that Safeway does care about the high cost of transportation." The bottomline, however, is still the bottomline. Stuart Baker/CommuterCheck: "What's not to like about a 40% discount off your BART fare?" For more information, click on www.bart.gov/tickets/benefits/index.aspx www.commutercheck.com , https://www.wageworks.com/home.aspx
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
" Hello maam, Would you like an eco-friendly recycling bag?"
She said 'Yes", as did hundreds of other Oakland commuters recently given a chance to "double their green".
With the help of BART, the City of Oakland is encouraging residents to take their current BYOB efforts one step further.
The message: Take BART to shop - wherever you shop - and bring your own bag when you do.
Oakland's vice-mayor took the lead...
Ignacio De La Fuente/Oakland Vice Mayor: " It's a way that we can keep our natural resources for our future and the
future of our children but it is good policy and all of it is connected. We want people out of their cars we want people to
use public transportation and we want to use these bags so we don't continue to destroy mother earth."
Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: " I just feel that this is one of the very significant and the most significant project
that BART and the city has and if we can work with this together, we can just be eco-friendly and create a safer environment
and we must do that for our future generations."
The vice president of the BART Board drove the point home.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Vice President: " BART serves 8 different areas in Oakland, we have 8 stops like we do in
San Franciscoand there's opportunities to go shopping around those BART stations. However you get there, hopefully
by BART, you'll bring your own bagwhen you go shopping."
Commuters we spoke with were happy to oblige.
" Recycling is good because it helps out the environment. When you can recycle and reuse it, I'm all for it."
"I don't like the idea of plastic bags sitting in landfills for a really long time and I often see them stuck in the tops of trees.
You know the wind blows them and they're really ugly and I guess they never break down."
" We messed up this whole World so the least I can do is recycle. I'm glad you gave this to me."
So, too, is the man on the receiving end of far too many plastic bags.
David Tucker/Waste Mgmt of Alameda Co. " We spend an enormous amount of time trying to collect plastic bags at the
landfill that blow in the wind and at our transfer stations they gum up our system and clog the sorters and recycling
machinery."
BART is attacking the problem on several fronts. Aside from partnering with Oakland to get the BYOB word out, it's also
quietly taking those trouble making plastic bags and turning them into rail ties. 14 thousand rail ties, to be exact.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Vice President: " Over the next couple years, we're going to be using 35 million recycled bags
to strengthen our rails that we run our BART trains on."
That's 35 million bags that won't end up in landfills.
" I'm going to clip it on right there. Then when you go shopping...I need a bag! Oh my bags right there. When you open it up,
the pocket stays inside the bag. You don't lose it. Always neat, always clean. Take them with you when you go shopping."
Brooke Levin/Assistant Director of Oakland Public Works: " Help save the enviroment by taking little incremental steps.
Bring your own bag to work, to play, to shop. And make an individual difference every day."
For more information on Oakland's Bring Your Own Bag campaign, click on www.OaklandRecycles.com
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
And the number of people you've got on the job?
Right now I think we've got about 200 people working."
When Representative John Garamendi toured the Contra Costa Crossover project in January, he was seeing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at work in his District.
The project will add two sections of trackway on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line between the Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill stations.
Those two trackways will allow a train to cross from one track to the other, providing additional seating for customers and increased reliability of service.
Gail Murray/BART Board Member
It's a green project, it's a quiet project, and it's a project that will benefit BART riders in this area system because we'll have the opportunity to be more flexible in our scheduling."
The 38 million dollars to pay for the project comes not only from Regional Measure 2 but 13 million dollars in federal stimulus funds.
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi/(D)-CA
This is one example right here of where the recovery act money is being put to good use. People are working, people are able to pay taxes, people are able to take care of their families, have the pride of work and leave behind something that will be used for the next 100 years: a cross over here in the Walnut Creek/Concord area." »
The project could be completed as early as December 2010.
Learn more and monitor progress by clicking on www.bart.gov/about/projects/ccc/index.aspx
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
If you're flying into Oakland International Airport, you can use BART to get to downtown San Francisco or dozens of other Bay Area locations.
Your first step is to catch the AirBART shuttle bus.
Rosemary Barnes/Oakland International Airport
"AirBART operates between Oakland International and BART's Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station every 15 minute or so."
It's pretty easy but there are a few key points to remember.
AirBART runs every 10 to 15 minutes and it costs three dollars.
The bus driver accepts exact change only or BART tickets with three dollars value.
If you need change, there are change machines near baggage claim.
If you decide to get change by buying a cup of coffee, you'll have to finish the coffee before boarding the bus.
When you're ready to leave, catch AirBART at the third curbside between the two terminals.
In about 15 minutes you'll arrive at the Coliseum BART station.
You'll find BART ticket machines just inside the station.
For basic rider information, click on the link in the text version of this story.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Tips on Protecting Yourself and Your iPod
:NARRATOR: BART Police officers are on the job 24/7 protecting your safety but even their presence, and the watchful eyes of security cameras, can't entirely prevent robberies in the BART system.
OFFICER BRANDO CRUZ/BART POLICE DEPT.: "Crime is rare in the BART system."
There are only about 15 robberies per month on BART but about 11 % of those involve one of the latest robbery targets: the Apple iPod.
The familiar white earbuds can be a tip off to potential criminals.
OFFICER BRANDO CRUZ: "Suspects know the white iPod earphones, when someone is utilizing those and not paying attention, they understand you're using an Apple iPod, which can be anywhere from $200 to $500 for the actual iPod. If you use an aftermarket headset, or type of headphone, you may be less of a target to suspects."
NARRATOR: In fact, it's a good idea to keep any valuables, including electronic gadgets, out of view.
And be aware of your surroundings. Don't hesitate to report something suspicous.
On trains, you can contact the Train Operator by using the intercom at the end of each car.
In stations, pick up a white courtesy phone or use a pay phone or cell to call BART Police toll free at 877 679 7000.
In fact, you should probably program this number into the speed dial function of your mobile phone.
BART Smart Tips for Bicyclists in Chinese
English Translation: Hello everyone, I am Vanessa Peng with a BART Smart tip.
Using your bicycle on BART is a cost effective and green way to get around.
For your safety and convenience, use a few BART Smart guidelines.
Keep the wheels clear of the door so other passengers can enter and exit the train.
Try not to block seats and be courteous to seniors and other passengers that need seats near the door
Check the BART schedule for the busiest times when non-folding bikes aren’t allowed on trains.
Folding bikes are allowed any time.
You'll find all the bike rules on our website at www.BART.gov/bikes.
I am Vanessa Peng for BARTtv News.
English Translation:
English Translation:
Hi everyone, I am Vanessa Peng with a BART Smart tip.
Using BART to connect with the airport is a terrific way to travel, especially with a few BART smart courtesies in mind.
Please keep your luggage with you at all times.
Please keep aisles and doorways clear.
And keep seats clear for your fellow passengers.
And if you would like more information, please log onto our website at www.BART.gov/airport. Vanessa Peng, BARTtv News.
With more than 340,000 riders on an average weekday, its no surprise that BART's 49,000 parking spots are often in high demand.
One way to guarantee yourself a parking spot is to buy a monthly reserved parking permit.
You can buy it online with a credit card.
You'll get a sticker that you place in your windshield. It guarantees you a spot in the Reserve lot until 10 a.m.
Reserve parking at some lots sells out quickly.
Here's a tip, look for reserve parking permits at the stations with lighter demand.
Right now your best bets are:
San Leandro, Bay Fair, Hayward, South Hayward, Union City, Pittsburg/Bay Point, Castro Valley, El Cerrito del Norte, El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, Daly City, Colma, San Bruno and Millbrae.
For more information, including all the parking rules and how to sign up for reserved parking, click on www.bart.gov/parking.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Using EZ Rider for parking is already....easy.
Now you can also sign up for free.
BART is waiving the normal seven dollar fee to sign up for EZ rider parking until April 2010.
Karl Petty is one of the 13-thousand riders who have already signed up.
"It's great! It's much faster so I like it a lot."
One of the big advantages is that you no longer have to remember of the number of the parking stall where you left your car.
Gail Murray/BART Board Member
" And so what I have a lot of complaints given to me about is the fact that people transpose their number and they come back and they have a parking ticket. This is going to solve that problem so I am very thrilled about it."
There's also no more fumbling around with cash, it's simple touch and go convenience.
The EZ Rider card works a lot like a FastTrak....you have a balance on
it tied to a credit card or bank account. Each time you use it, money
is deducted from the account. And, once the balance goes below a
certain level, it's topped up again from your credit card or bank
account.
You can sign up for the EZ Rider card, including the parking function, by clicking on https://ezrider.bart.gov/ezrider/
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
They folded, mounted, and rode.
In support of the15th annual Bike to Work Day, BART Board members John McPartland, and Bob Franklin commuted from their homes to the May 14 Board Meeting---by bike.
Bob Franklin/BART Board Member: "We have a busy stressful day ahead of us and it was great to be able to unwind and prepare for work in a environmentally friendly way too."
More than 200,00 people participated in this year's Bike to Work Day-making it a record breaking event. But BART customers are creating records of their own. According to BART's recent station access survey, 3.5% of BART customers are now biking to BART-that's 40% more than 10 years ago!
John McPartland/BART Board Member: "The more the public transportation can be used and take the congestion off the highways as well as reduce air carbon footprints on the environment, better it is not only for the commuters, but for the rest of the world."
Bikers were treated to complimentary treats, a reusable goodie bag, bicycle information and words of encouragement from volunteers at hundreds of Energizer Stations-located along bike commute routes in all nine Bay Area counties.
Bike to and from BART, but remember that non-folding bikes are not allowed on trains during blackout times.
Folding bikes are always welcome on BART.
You'll find all the rules by clicking on the link in the text version of this story.
James Allison, BARTtv News.
An out-of-the ordinary ribbon cutting for an out-of the ordinary technology.
Steven Grover/eLock Technologies President
"So the concept is basically a parking meter with a locker attached."
A locker where you can safely store your bike on a pay-as-you go basis.
There are now 40 of these electronic Bike Link lockers at MacArthur Station, where BART hosted ribbon cutting and promotional giveaway.
Tom Radulovich/BART Board Director
"I am actually very pleased to be here today. I think this is yet another step in BART's commitment to becoming much more bike friendly."
Lynette Sweet/BART Board Director
"We're excited about this new system because this new technology is efficient, easy to use, secure and affordable."
MacArthur is one of eight stations that's had the electronic lockers installed in the first phase of this multi-phase project.
Tom Radulovich/BART Board Director
"These are a part of the first group of lockers. We have 202 lockers that are gonna go in, mostly I think in East Bay stations. Then there's another group following along behind them."
BART plans to have about 900 electronic lockers installed by 2012 thanks to grants from several groups.
These new electronic are replacing the old key lockers at many BART stations because they give more people a chance to use them.
A single electronic locker can be rented by five cyclists in a week.
The key lockers were available to just one renter on a yearly or quarterly basis.
Steven Grover/eLock Technologies President
"You're serving a lot more cyclists with less footprint."
The electronic lockers are perfect for someone like Rochelle Wheeler.
Rochelle Wheeler/BikeLink User
"I commute on bike to BART about maybe once to three times a week."
Rochelle paid $20 for a bike link card and now has a place to stash her bike and more at North Berkeley.
Rochelle Wheeler/BikeLink User
"I can take off my helmet and my gloves and my light and I can put them all in the locker with my bike so I don't have to lug those things around during the day."
Rochelle enters plenty of time on the meter to cover the time she will be using the locker. The electronic locker then deducts 3 cents an hour from the balance on her card. When she returns the eLocker calculates how much time was used and refunds any extra time back to her card.
Steven Grover/eLock Technologies President
"You can use your BikeLink card at Caltrain, at San Jose city hall..."
Click on www.bikelink.org for a map of locations and details on how you can get your card.
Steven Grover/eLock Technologies President
"BikeLink is all about trying to make it easier for you to use your bike to get to transit and use it for errands."
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Alan Hu/Folding Bike Owner
Folding bikes are a very real, very practical solution to some of today's problems."
Alan Hu is fond of folding bikes and he's not alone.
With the last year or so, with gas prices, we've seen a huge increase in folding bikes, again because folding bikes are so compatible with the commute."
Because folding bikes are becoming more popular and because they're allowed on any BART train at any time, BARTtv went to Fruitvale Bike Station for some tips on buying a folder.
Joy Franco/Alameda Bicycle
First thing you definitely want to look for is how easy the bike is to fold up"
Joy Franco of Alameda Bicycle says the more hinges, the more folding you'll be doing.
She says finding a stable bike is also important, but be careful about getting a bike that's too heavy.
If you're carrying it up and down some BART stairs, the last thing you want to do is have some 50 pound beast that you're lugging over your shoulder."
Other factors Joy suggests you consider: fenders and a rack for commuting convenience, tires designed for urban streets and a simple set of gears.
Of course, price is always a consideration.
Joy says you don't need to go break the bank but it's not wise to buy the most inexpensive folder you can find either.
Something in about the 5 to 600 dollar range is going to be a solid bike, no warranty issues, something that's going to last a long time."
For more information, click www.foldingcyclist.com.
And if you're not yet ready to invest in a folder, don't forget you can securley store your conventional bike for free at three bike station locations, including here at Fruitvale Bike station.
It's open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News
"Change is gonna come." Youth vocalist, Chris Pierce set the tone for BART's Black History fair. The program featured art, crafts and exhibits by local vendors. Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: "Happy Black History Month!" BART Board member, Carole Ward Allen acted as the mistress of ceremonies and stressed the importance of recognizing the rich history of the African American culture. Carole Ward Allen/BART Board Member: "I like for all of you to know that we have a generation of young people to whom names that you and I take for granted - they have no idea, they have no idea. This event is the fruit of two months of planning by a creative team of people who have volunteered their own time so that we can celebrate Black History Month." devorah major/story teller: " Did you know that California was named after an African Queen?" Renown story teller and former San Francisco Poet Laureate, devorah major performed an oral history that enthralled the audience. devorah major/story teller: " When I was a child growing upin San Francisco in the 1950's 60's, I was a negro. I didn't become Black unitl I was about 13 years old. But when Black became beautiful, it was Africa Black, Black nationalist Black. it wasn't Black's in California being beautiful throughout California history. See, I didn't know that California was named after Queen Califia, an African mythological queen - did you?" BART's General Manager Dorothy Dugger shared early experiences that led to her live long commitment to equality and diversity. Dorothy Dugger/BART General Manager: " I had the privledge of growing up in Martin Luther King's Alabama. I was a young girl when King was writing his letters from the Birmingham jail and leading the march on Selma. I was 11 years old when this Civil Rights movement that he led resulted in the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights's Act." The Black History Fair is just one of many events that both recognize and celebrate BART's own diversity. Dorothy Dugger/BART General Manager: " That diversity enables us to hear and learn from the many voices, experiencesperspectives and the many need that our region looks to us to address. It is what helps us provide service each and everyday that is relavent and useful to very diverse public we serve." "Change is gonna come." Cheryl Stalter, BARTtv News.
A "Wicked" Rider Appreciation Day
What a wicked way to start the day!
50-thousand BART customers received a coupon worth $30 off the hit musical Wicked on Thursday, February fourth.
It was just the latest in a series of Rider Appreciation Days.
Peggy Denny/San Francisco:
"BART is always full of surprises"
Robert Fortin/Concord:
"Thanks, BART!"
Wicked is now playing an open-ended engagment at San Francisco's Orpheum theater.
The Tony award winning musical presents the untold story of the witches of Oz.
In addition to the $30 off coupon, the handout included an exclusive download card offering several of Wicked's hit songs for free.
Best of all, the giveaway didn't cost taxpayers any money - it was made possible by Wicked's generous donation valued at $1.5 million
For more information on Wicked, click on www.wickedthemusical.com/sf
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
"Getting all set for the holidays?"
It's the holday shopping season, and everyone is busy - including thieves.
"Look who's looking over your shoulder."
BART police officer Michael Maes and his colleagues are on patrol 24/7.
Even so, it's a sad fact of life: criminals will take advantage of easy targets.
Officer Michael Maes/BART Police: "People will look for things that are left unattended, unsecured."
Here are some tips from BART police that will help fend off grinches who might want to steal holiday goodies:
Stay alert and keep your shopping bags close by.
Shop with a friend - it's more fun than going it alone.
Consider using just one credit or debit card instead of carrying a stack of plastic or a roll of cash.
And, if you're on a shopping spree, combine all your bags from high-end stores into one sturdy plain-jane type bag.
" Between the store and home we don't need to let everybody else know where you've been."
Now, if you need to reach BART police, call them toll free at 877-679-7000 or (510) 464-7000.
" Both numbers are manned 24 hours a day."
With these common sense tips and the help of BART police, your shopping can be fun and safe.
"Spend your time shopping don't spend your time looking for parking."
Stay tuned for another BARTtv story on BARTable shopping destinations. Afterall, we stop where you shop.
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
For 15 seconds, the earth moved.
It happened 20 years ago, but Bob McKenney remembers it as if it were yesterday.
Bob McKenney/Train Operator
Iinitially you feel the earthquake but this is one of the rare circumstances where i could actually see the earthquake."
McKenney was bringing a full load of passengers into Fruitvale Station when the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck.
Meantime, fellow train operator Lulu Wilkinson was travelling 80 miles an hour through the transbay tube.
An urgent call came from BART Central Control.
Donna "Lulu" Wilkinson/Retired Train Operator
All trains, all trains, hold position. so I went ahhh and hit the stop button and i stopped almost dead center in the tube."
I thought, just my luck. It still hadn't dawned on me because I never felt anything."
Little did Wilkinson know that all hell was breaking loose at ground level.
More than a mile of 880's Cypress Freeway collapsed, killing 42 people.
A section of the Bay Bridge's upper deck crashed onto the deck below.
Buildings tilted at obscene angles and fires raced out of control, fueled by broken gas mains.
For front line BART workers, it was time to put their training to the test.
I think in a lot of ways it kept panic from jumping into the game right away. we knew where we should be and what we had to do next."
I told everybody come up to my cab, go ahead and come up if you're getting panickedor you are worred about anyting come up here and we'll talk and don't worry about it. And people did."
In the hours after the quake, train operators and other BART staff made sure passengers were safe.
Then they inspected the tracks for damage.
There was virtually none.
BART then became a lifeline.
That was our shining moment in a lot of ways because suddenly we were it."
In the first full week after the quake, the average daily ridership of 218,000 skyrocketed to 308,000.
BART ran round the clock for a month while the Bay Bridge was repaired.
BART played a lead role in the Loma Prieta recovery.
So, is BART quake proof?
Loma Prieta was not a good test of BART's susceptibility to an earthquake because it's so far away. It was a good 50-60 miles from here and we're worried about an earthquake just up the hill here on the Hayward fault."
Tom Horton is in charge of BART's Earthqake Safety Progrom.
It's a project to strengthen the sections of BART that were were built in the 60's and 70's, including the transbay tube and more than 1,900 columns holding up elevated tracks.
To Horton and his colleagues, a future earthquake is more than just a possibility.
The Hayward Fault is due for an earthquake. It has a cycle of 130 to 170 years the last sizeable one was in 1868 so we are right in the 140 year period right now. Hayward is due."
You can learn more about the Earthquake Safety program by clicking on www.bart.gov/about/projects
And remember, during times of emergency, a passenger's safest option is to listen for instructions from the train operator.
They are highly trained professionals dedicated to your safety.
You can't panic with people, you know. I said. 'we're fine. we're in the best place we can be in the BART stystem."
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
.
Information for Passengers During Medical Emergencies
Hi, I'm Vanessa Peng and I will be telling you what to do if there is a medical emergency on a BART train or in a BART station.
If you are in a BART train and another passenger is experiencing a medical emergency, immediately go to an intercom located at either end of a BART car.
Push the button and be ready to tell the train operator the following information:
1. What car you are in. The car number is located above each end of your car.
2. Is there is an obvious injury.
3. The physical description of the patient.
4. Any other necessary details about the medical emergency.
After you tell the train operator the information, they can alert paramedics and BART police so they can be on their way and meet the train when it stops at the next station.
Remain calm and stay near the patient until paramedics and BART police arrive to your car.
When they arrive assist if possible.
If you are in a station during a medical emergency immediately approach a station agent or find a white courtesy phone. White courtesy phones are located on both platform and concourse levels.
Be prepared to tell the station agent:
1. Where to find the person that is suffering the emergency.
2. Is there is an obvious injury.
3. The physical description of the patient.
4. Any other necessary details about the medical emergency.
Once the paramedics arrive, assist if possible.
For other passenger safety guidelines click on http://www.bart.gov/guide/safety/safety.aspx
And watch for a future BARTtv News story about the specially-trained paramedics stationed along the BART system during rush hours to respond to emergencies quickly.
Vanessa Peng, BARTtv News.
A BART train speeds into Oakland's Rockridge Station, carrying hundreds of people going about their daily business.
Underneath the tracks and unnoticed by the passengers, BART contractors are hard at work in a race against time.
They are preparing for this:
the aftermath of a major earthquake.
Although BART bounced back within 24 hours of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake,
the transit agency isn't taking any chances when it comes to the next big one.
Molly McArthur/Project Spokesperson
"If that same earthquake occured on the Hayward fault in our own back yard, it would hit us very strongly. We feel that we have to get BART prepared for a 7.5 to 8.0 earthquake."
In fact, the US Geological Survey predicts a high probablility of at least one major Bay Area earthquake within the next 30 years.
Vanya Swift/Oakland
"I know that there's fault lines very close to here and it's good to have that extra assurance that things would be okay after there's an earthquake."
Kauado Fraiola/Berkeley
"It makes sense to be safe, period. Especially if people expect earthquakes."
BART's goal is not only make sure our riders are safe when a quake hits, but that the system is back up and running again quickly.
The transit system is simply too important to the Bay Area economy to imagine life without it
Rockridge is just one of 34 stations in the original system that's being retrofitted.
Crews here are working on the columns that support the tracks.
"One of the chief activities we have to do at BART is strengthen all of the columns that hold the aerial structure in place and the way we do that, while we're running trains by the way, is to dig out the footing, expose the footing itself add more concrete and rebar strengthening it, making it larger. A larger footing will keep that column upright."
All this work is being done with little disruption for riders.
You may not realize it, but workers are already retrofitting the Transbay Tube.
"We have maybe another year to a year and a half of work and that column is solid and secure."
For a more detailed look at the Tube work, watch Linton Johnson's story on BARTtv News.
"Let me take you over here.."
And for complete, updated information on the retrofit, click on the link in the text version of this story - you can even sign up for email updates on the Earthquake Safety Program.
Escalators are workhorses.
They pull you up...or take you down...and you probably don't give them much of a second thought.
But they do deserve a little respect, especially when it comes to safety.
Dave Sanborn/BART Safety Dept.:
"It is a machine, it has no brain, it doesn't know what it's doing except getting people up and down, so please use it properly."
Using it properly includes following some common-sense guidelines.
The main thing for you to remember is that escalators are meant to transport people, not strollers, wheelchairs or bikes.
"Number one, the bicycles can run away and city hit other passengers, they get wedged in between the sides of the escalators and have rapid stops of the escalators."
Bikes and other wheeled devices belong on elevators, which you'll find at each of the 43 BART stations.
And if you're not on a bike or in a wheelchair, there are still things you can do to stay safe on an escalator.
"We ask everybody to hold on, not to rush, let the escalator do its job get them between floors, and then exit safely and move out of the way to so other people can also exit."
It's a common courtesy to stand to the right, allowing other passengers to walk up the escalator if they wish.
And if you see someone doing something unsafe on an escalator, don't confront them yourself.
"It would be better to just to point it out to one of our personnel and they've been trained to handle that situation."
You'll find more safety tips by clicking http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2008.aspx
Jim Allison, BARTtv News.
Street Musicians Add to the Atmosphere at BART Stations
"I hear the train a'coming..."
The familiar sound of the train arriving is music to any commuter's ears.
"It's rolling round the bend..."
Some sounds are ,well -unexpected
As commuters streamed off a rush-hour train, a few stopped to stare at the man with the deep booming voice, strumming a guitar and singing in the 24th St. Mission BART Station.
Jesse Morris, known to many BART riders as "the punk rock Johnny Cash," does sound uncannily like the country music icon...
He has played in stations for years and is perhaps one of the best known BART buskers, part of a tradition of musicians playing in public places for tips, or just for the fun of it.
" Thank you!"
Mostly, musicians seem to be welcomed as a part of the transit experience, although they are allowed only in the non-paid areas of the BART stations (outside the faregates). They are supposed to obtain an expressive activities permit (available for free) and are generally not a problem if they are following the rules, which include not using amplifiers, not obstructing the flow of pedestrian traffic in any way and following any instructions from station agents or other personnel.
Why does he like playing in BART stations?
"The acoustics are good down here, the people are friendly," he says. "They stop and listen, they tip, they smile. I have a great time down here." Jesse Morris/Musician
" Hey Thanks!"
"I consider it a job," he says. "Just like some people might work in an office, I work at the station entertaining people. I get to do what I love ... It's a really, really good day job to have." Jesse Morris/Musician
Morris started busking outside a 7-11 in the Oakland hills when he was around 13 -- playing Beck, Green Day, mostly rock 'n' roll. A few years later he was turned on to country music by some friends and stumbled on to the autobiography of Johnny Cash.
"I kind of fell in love with him,," he says. "And I realized, 'Oh, I sound kind of like this dude. Kind of like an Elvis impersonator, but not as cheesy," Jesse Morris/Musician
Jesse embraces the Cash rebel ethos as well; his upper arm is tattooed with the famous image of Cash making a rude gesture toward a photographer during a 1969 concert at San Quentin Prison.
Morris draws influences from old-school country, the stories of cheating, drinking and heartbreak from singers like Hank Williams and Merle Haggard. Singing at 24th St. Mission, he shifted his voice , added a little twang, and channeled Haggard with "Mama Tried."
"I turned 21 in prison doin' life without parole; No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried... Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied, that leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried."
Hard-core country might seem an odd fit for the hipsters, grifters of the Mission BART but the crowd was approving, dropping dollars in the guitar case, clapping and tapping along in rhythm.
"I got a cow that's gone dry, and a hen that won't lay; a big stack of bills that gets bigger each day; The county's gonna haul my belongings away, I'm busted."
Morris says even after a late night when he doesn't really feel like going down into the station, "I get down here and see I made somebody smile. It means something ... to see somebody stoked on somethat that you're doing - it's amazing."
You can download the form to request an expressive activities permit at www.BART.gov/about/business/permits/eapermits.aspx
"I love my job!" Jesse Morris/Musician
Melissa Jordan, BARTtv News
Update on Citizen Oversight of BART Police
Dozens of community members have volunteered their input into BART's effort to ensure that the District learns and improves from the tragedy of January 1, 2009.
It was in the early morning hours of New Years Day that now former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle fatally shot passenger Oscar Grant on the platform of Fruitvale Station after Grant was involved in a fight on a train.
BART Board Member Tom Radulovich
"In the aftermath of the Oscar Grant shooting, we've not only looked at what happened that night on that platform, we have looked at every aspect of policing at BART."
Among the many actions BART has taken since the shooting: creating committee of the full Board called the BART Police Department Review Committee.
One of its tasks was to develop citizen oversight of the BART Police Department.
The committee spent weeks holding a series of meetings, gathering input from the community.
"My last question is: if this model is approved as it is written, is the Board empowered to replace or reprimand the General Manager or the Chief?"
In fact, some of the most impassioned community members even served on the subcommittee that examined existing citizen oversight models to help draft the BART structure.
Minister Keith Muhammad/Nation of Islam
"We are seeking justice in permanent systemic change."
On August 13th, the full Board adopted the committee's model of citizen oversight.
It creates a board-appointed independent auditor position and an 11 member citizen board to review BART police policies, procedures and to recommend changes.
Both the auditor and citizen board would also review complaints against officers.
BART Board Member Joel Keller
I don't think good police officers have anything to fear from citizen oversight. It's just another layer of protection for them."
The independent auditor and the citizen board would each have a role in recommending discipline against officers.
The citizen board could appeal discipline decisions all the way to the Board of Directors where the full Board would have the final say.
Currently state law neither permits the Board to make discipline decisions nor allows the Board to appoint an independent auditor, so there must be a change to the BART act.
BART Board Member Carole Ward Allen
"Without state lawmakers amending the BART Act, we cannot take this next step toward citizens oversight."
Unfortunately, state lawmakers did not consider amending the BART Act during the 2009 legislative sesson.
Nonetheless, BART Board members are resolute in seeing citizens oversight move forward.
BART Board Member Lynette Sweet
"We're committed and we want to make sure that what happend on January first, from the perspective of this Director and my colleagues, doesn't come back to us in the same way ever again."
The focus for citizens oversight now shifts to the 2010 legislative session.
You can review the Board-adopted structure of citizen oversight by clicking on www.bart.gov.
Jim Allison BARTtv News.
