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BART announces new Safe & Clean Plan

Seats are scrubbed with hot water and disinfectant soap during a thorough clean.

As the Bay Area’s backbone public transit system, BART is rolling up its sleeves to make sure riders feel safe, to keep our trains cleaner than ever, and to provide the best service yet – from departure to destination. 

BART Police Officers

Commitment to Safety & Security

  • Ensuring BART Police are riding trains more, increasing their visibility, and keeping riders safe by doubling officer presence systemwide.
    • Average response time is down to 4 minutes.
    • Increased patrols are yielding results by deterring crime and quickly apprehending perpetrators when incidents occur. 
    • 85% drop in cellphone snatches since 2019 shows our investments in rider safety are paying off. 
  • Progressive policing approach uses unarmed Crisis Intervention Specialists, Ambassadors and Fare Inspectors for additional patrols with experts in de-escalation.
    • 7% of calls have been diverted from police to an employee with training in social work.
  • Recruiting for all vacant officer positions and adding 19 additional officer positions once vacancies filled.
  • Making trains even safer by eliminating near-empty train cars by shortening the least-crowded trains.
  • Maintaining 4,000+ surveillance cameras to minimize response time and hold suspects accountable.
  • LED lighting installed on platforms and in parking facilities to eliminate dark corners.
  • Increasing transparency and community outreach to proactively address transit safety concerns.
New fare gate rendering- design is not finalized.

Commitment to New Fare Gates

  • Taller, stronger fare gates to deter fare evasion will be installed.
    • Pilot fare gates to be installed at West Oakland by the end of 2023.
    • Complete installation of 700+ new fare gates systemwide by the end of 2025.
  • Fare gates added to enclose elevators to further reduce fare evasion.

Commitment to a Clean Ride

  • Doubling the rate of deep cleaning on train cars.
  • Retiring all old trains.
  • Adding nearly 66% more dedicated crews working to keep stations clean.
  • Staffing restrooms at high-volume stations with attendants to guarantee cleanliness and safety.

Commitment to Adapt Service and Attract New Riders

  • September 2023 schedule change brings our train deployment up to date by increasing emphasis on ridership growth opportunities and relying less on outdated commuting models.
    • 50% increase in daily evening service.
    • Eliminates 30-minute wait times on weekends and nights.
    • Reduced platform wait times thanks to new scheduled transfers. 
    • Service on BART’s busiest weekday line, the Yellow Line, increases trains from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes from Pittsburg/Bay Point to get drivers off congested highways 4, 680, & 24.
    • New schedule improves reliability and better serves SFO and OAK
  • Customer On-Time performance has improved to 91%; timed transfers have improved to 80%
  • Canceled trips nearly eliminated.
  • Increasing Clipper START fare discount for low-income riders to 50% January 1, 2024.
  • Offering Clipper BayPass, where employers purchase all-you-can-ride transit passes for employees.

BART’s General Manager Bob Powers welcomes you back on board: 

“If you haven’t tried BART in the last few months, I encourage you to ditch your car for the day. We’ve made many improvements. From easy app-based payment to new escalators at our busy downtown stations, we’re proud of the improvements we are making every day. Most importantly, we’ve made a commitment to a cleaner, safer ride that guarantees BART remains the safest way to travel.”

Train car cleaner Alyssa Barnes mops the floor of a BART car with disinfectant soap and steaming hot water during a train car thorough clean.