Join BART in keeping waterways clean
People who choose BART instead of driving are helping keep our waterways clean.
Cars are among the main sources of water pollution in the Bay Area. That’s because leaking fluids like oil and particles from exhaust and other contaminants end up on our roads and then are washed untreated into storm drains that lead directly into our waterways. Birds, fish, and other animals are then exposed to the pollutants.
Keeping cars off the road and our waterways cleaner is one more environmental benefit BART offers to riders and the Bay Area. But that doesn’t mean BART is immune to storm drain run off. BART also has storm drains.
BART riders can help keep Bay Area creeks, wetlands, and the bay clean and free of debris by properly disposing of trash at BART and ensuring cars parked in our lots are not leaking.
Trash dropped on the ground gets blown by the wind or carried by storm water into storm drain inlets. This trash can then get carried out to the Bay or result in blockages of the storm drain system, resulting in flooding.
What Riders Can Do
- Put litter in its place: Dispose of trash into garbage and recycling receptacles provided by BART in our stations and parking lots.
- Use reusables: You can prevent litter by using reusable containers like travel mugs.
- Decline the printed receipt at BART ticket and parking machines if you can.
- Car maintenance: You may not be polluting but your car may be. If you drive to BART, please ensure your car isn’t leaking. Regular tune ups and leak inspections can prevent leaks or fix them if you have one.
- Car wash: The grime on your car that includes residue from gasoline, motor oil, and other chemicals can get washed off during a rain storm if your car is parked in one of our outdoor lots. Help prevent this runoff by taking your car to a commercial or coin operated self-service car wash where all wash water is recycled and properly disposed of.
What BART is Doing
- BART has installed storm drain markers to inform the public that what goes down that drain flows to the bay.
- BART uses drought resistant plants and efficient irrigation systems in our landscaping to preserve water and minimize run-off.
- BART cleans parking lots and plazas at least weekly to remove trash and pollutants.
- BART recycles the water used to wash train cars.
- BART has moved towards low-impact development (LID) as a standard practice, which is an approach to land development that works with nature to manage storm water as close to the source as possible.
- At several locations, BART uses biofiltration to remove pollutants from our parking facilities.
BART has implemented stormwater features based on LID principles at numerous facilities including the Richmond Intermodal, Warm Springs Station, Berkeley Plaza, the Lafayette Intermodal, El Ceritto del Norte, and Antioch parking lot.
We all play a role in keeping our waterways clean, safe and healthy.
A bioswale at Warm Springs Station designed to prevent storm water run-off.