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The BART Art Program is undertaking an effort to highlight even more local artists by inviting them to submit their existing artwork to be used in a variety of BART spaces, including stations, trains, and even BART Headquarters.

If you are a local artist aged 18+ and residing in one of the five BART counties -- Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara -- we invite you to submit your work!

The art we seek should reflect the BART system and its integral role in all of our lives in the Bay Area. We are looking not only for images of the trains, tracks, and stations -- though we know we will receive beautiful ones -- but also art that represents what makes BART the Bay and the Bay BART. How does the diverse geographies, geologies, and ethnographies you encounter on BART intertwine? How has BART influenced or inspired you as an artist? 

Submissions must be made through our Submittable platform by March 23 at 11pm PDT. The total number of applications will be limited to 400 (applicants not images), so we encourage you to apply early to ensure consideration. BART will be licensing the images; this is not an artwork purchase program.

What: Request for local artists to submit their BART-esque artwork

More info/rules: Request for Submissions

Submission portal: Submittable

Deadline: March 23, 11pm PDT, or until 400 applicants have submitted

Read about the BART Art Program at bart.gov/art. 

The 56th annual San Francisco Pride Parade will be held on Sunday, June 28, and BART will increase service to carry participants to and from the festivities.

We encourage you to take BART and “ride with Pride” to get to and from the parade safely and expediently. Embarcadero, Montgomery St, Powell St, and Civic Center stations are all along the parade route (see rider guide).

BART will open at 8am and run 5-line service with trains roughly every 5 minutes through downtown San Francisco. Additional event trains will be dispatched as ridership warrants. After 9pm, BART will run 3-line service.  

In the morning, event trains will bolster our service between Millbrae and Downtown San Francisco as well as between Pleasant Hill and Downtown San Francisco from 9:30 to 11am. Later in the day, event trains will start at 2pm and continue into the evening, supplementing scheduled service.

The parade begins at 10:30am at Market and Beale streets, closest to Embarcadero Station. It will end at Market and 8th streets, closest to Civic Center Station.  

Riders should expect large crowds at Embarcadero Station before 10am and large crowds all day at Civic Center Station, as well as heavy ridership to and from all Downtown San Francisco stations and 16th St Mission Station. Riders are encouraged to use Montgomery St and Powell St instead of Civic Center or Embarcadero stations.  

Planning and paying for your trip

Plan your door-to-door trip using BART’s Trip Planner. Itineraries will include key transfer information. You can also check Real Time Departures for the stations you use.  
Parking at BART stations (except Milpitas and Berryessa stations) is free on weekends.  

Every BART station has restrooms except Pittsburg Center, 12th St./Oakland City Center, Civic Center, 16th St. Mission, 24th St. Mission, and the Oakland International Airport Station (Coliseum Station has a restroom).  

All Bay Area transit, including BART, accepts contactless debit or credit cards and mobile payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay for adult fare payment. No setup is required. Just Tap and Ride. Each person needs their own card or device. Clipper cards are also accepted.   

Riders who use more than one transit agency in a single trip will only be charged full fare on the first operator. A transfer discount of up to $2.85 will apply on any additional transit agency the rider uses within a two-hour window. Transfer discounts are calculated automatically using Tap and Ride or Clipper for accounts that have been upgraded to the next generation system (click here to upgrade your card).   

Tips for taking BART to the SF Pride Parade and Celebration
 
•    Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street and Civic Center stations can all be used to get to the parade route.
•    Download the official BART app to plan your trip, get real-time departures, and pay for parking.
•    Be patient. It could get crowded on trains and in our stations. BART’s busiest hours are expected to be from the parade start until 2pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm leaving the parade and celebration.
•    When boarding trains, move to the center of the car so more people can fit and remove backpacks.
•    Don’t jam a train door, which can take the whole train out of service. 

Getting to BART/Parking

Consider taking a bus, getting dropped off, riding your bicycle, or walking to your station. BART offers free parking on weekends, except at Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations, which are owned by VTA and VTA's parking rates still apply. More info on parking at BART: bart.gov/parking.  

BART in the parade

BART staff, their families, and friends will march in the San Francisco Pride Parade with the BARTmobile. 

New BART Pride merch on Railgoods.com

Ride the rainbow with BARTy on a unicorn by purchasing the new BART Pride t-shirt and BART Pride sticker on Railgoods.com! 

BART will participate in the 2025 International ShakeOut Day earthquake drill on Thursday, October 16, to test our emergency response systems and to help raise public awareness of the importance of having a plan and being prepared.

At 10:16am, BART staff will trigger our ShakeAlert early warning earthquake system to ensure it is functioning and working correctly. Once triggered, trains will automatically slow down to 27mph. Then all trains will come to a very brief stop. BART will also make a systemwide public announcement encouraging riders to be prepared for earthquakes. BART will also test our internal communications systems to notify employees and the Operations Control Center will observe earthquake alarms and our train control systems to ensure they are working properly.

ShakeAlert Early Warning Earthquake System

BART is an early adopter of the ShakeAlert system, which is connected to seismic stations located throughout Northern California. When the alarm is triggered, the system sends a speed restriction command to trains. This system removes human response time and can even slow trains down before the shaking occurs depending on how far away the quake is centered.

BART to Simulate Damage Inspections

BART has added simulated damage inspections to its ShakeAlert drill. Shortly after ShakeAlert is triggered Thursday, about 60 engineers will divide into teams and fan out to all 50 stations to conduct structural assessments. The engineers will inspect walkways, support structures, elevators, escalators – anything that could sustain damage in a powerful earthquake. The simulation is designed to identify areas for improvement and to exercise “muscle memory” for BART’s earthquake response. 

Emergency Response Plan

BART has an Earthquake Emergency Response Plan, and we hold several drills a year to ensure staff is trained and ready to respond. In the event of an earthquake, riders should listen for instructions from BART personnel. Employees are trained to evacuate the public from dangerous areas.  Following an earthquake, BART trains are held in place (except for trains in the Transbay Tube and BART Caldecott Tunnel) until it is determined it is safe to move the train to the nearest station where riders will be offboarded.

Earthquake Safety Tips

Where will you be and what will you do when the next big earthquake hits? Taking time to consider these questions now could help if you ever do find yourself in an earthquake.

LISTEN FOR INSTRUCTIONS

That’s one reason why the first guideline in a BART emergency is to follow instructions from BART personnel. The BART Operations Control Center is in constant communication with trains and Station Agents and is in the best position to manage emergencies and provide direction for the public.

ON A TRAIN

If you’re on a train during an earthquake, Train Operators will follow BART’s established emergency plan and provide you with important information. Sit down or grab a handhold to avoid injury. If an evacuation is necessary, emergency response personnel will coordinate.

IN A STATION

If you’re in a station during an earthquake, back away from the edge of the trackway. If you’re in the station concourse, don’t proceed to the platform. Instead, prepare to evacuate the station under the direction of BART personnel.

TRY TEXTING

No matter where you are, emergency experts recommend using text messaging instead of cell calls to communicate with family and loved ones in an emergency. Cell networks can be overwhelmed if everyone’s trying to call at the same time; text messages can be more efficient.

Earthquake Safety Program Completed in 2024

In September 2024, BART completed its Earthquake Safety Program, which retrofitted vulnerable high traffic portions of the original system to make it safer in a large quake. The Earthquake Safety Program was funded in part by Measure AA, a $980 million general obligation BART bond approved by voters in 2004. The program focused on upgrading portions of the original system not only for life safety but also to ensure that we can return to operation shortly after a major earthquake.

Visit Shakeout.org for simple safety steps during earthquakes.

BART today started running longer trains on most of its lines in response to a recent surge in ridership. All trains on the Yellow Line, which extends from Antioch to SFO, will be extended from eight cars to nine. The Yellow Line is BART’s busiest. 

BART is also extending some trains on the Red, Blue, and Green lines. Each line will now feature four eight-car trains in the AM and PM peak. The longer trains will expand capacity as more riders take BART. BART’s ridership in August increased by 10% compared with a year ago. BART’s strongest ridership days of 2025 have come this month including the highest daily total of the year when 219,918 riders took BART on September 10. 

Ridership numbers are increasing as BART has delivered on a series of changes to improve safety, cleanliness, and the overall rider experience. Big wins for riders in 2025 include the earlier than promised installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at all 50 stations, a drop in BART’s overall crime rate, an increased visible safety presence, a boost in cleaning for trains and stations, customer on-time performance increasing to 94% for the latest quarter, and BART becoming the first transit system in the Bay Area to offer riders the convenience of Tap and Ride. 

The BART Board of Directors has named Inez Gonzalez as the new BART Independent Police Auditor. The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (OIPA) is an essential part of the BART Civilian Oversight Model, which is among the most robust police oversight models in the country. The Board of Directors established both the OIPA and the BART Police Citizen Review Board in 2010.  Gonzalez succeeds Russell Bloom who was appointed Independent Police Auditor in 2016 and retired from BART earlier this year. Her first day on the job will be September 2, 2025.

“Inez Gonzalez has a wealth of experience that includes not only work in police oversight but also as a member of law enforcement,” said BART Board President Mark Foley. “BART has one of the most robust police oversight models in the country and it will be made even stronger thanks to the passion for equitable policing that Inez Gonzalez will bring to the Office of the Independent Police Auditor.”

Gonzalez brings more than 25 years of progressive experience in police oversight, law enforcement, and investigations to her new role as BART Independent Police Auditor. Gonalez most recently served as the Executive Director of the Police Civilian Oversight Board in Charlottesville, Virginia. While there she implemented a comprehensive civilian investigation program to promote integrity and systemic improvement in police services. Before that, Gonzalez rose to the rank of Captain in the Newark, New Jersey Police Department. Among her roles in Newark was serving as Commander of Internal Affairs where she directed complex investigative operations while ensuring compliance with department policies, attorney general guidelines, and state law.

“I am profoundly honored by the trust the BART Board of Directors has placed in me in appointing me as the Independent Police Auditor,” said Inez Gonzalez. “The Office of the Independent Police Auditor serves as a cornerstone of accountability, transparency, and fairness in policing. With integrity, impartiality, and purpose, I am committed to building upon the strong legacy established by my predecessors. I look forward to fostering collaborative relationships with the BART Police Citizen Review Board, BART leadership, and most importantly, the communities we serve.” 

The mission of the OIPA is to provide effective and independent oversight of the BART Police Department by conducting unbiased and thorough investigations, monitoring internal affairs investigations, and making policy recommendations to improve the performance of the police department.  OIPA also reports to the public and maintains communication with communities served by BART. The OIPA has unfettered access to police records, data, reports, and videos to perform their investigative and monitoring work. OIPA accepts complaints, including anonymously, and can investigate complaints from community members whether or not they were the victim of alleged police misconduct.

Learn more about BART’s Independent Police Auditor.

The 55th annual San Francisco Pride Celebration Parade will be held on Sunday, June 29th and BART will increase service to carry participants to and from the festivities.

We encourage you to take BART and “ride with Pride” to get to and from the parade safely and expediently. Embarcadero, Montgomery St, Powell St, and Civic Center stations are all along the parade route (see rider guide). 

BART will open at 8am and run 5-line service with trains roughly every 5 minutes through Downtown San Francisco. Additional event trains will be dispatched as ridership warrants. After 9pm, BART will run 3-line service.  

In the morning, event trains will bolster our service between Millbrae and Downtown San Francisco as well as between Pleasant Hill and Downtown San Francisco from 9:30 to 11am. Later in the day, event trains will start at 2pm and continue into the evening, supplementing scheduled service. 

The parade begins at 10am at Market and Beale streets, closest to Embarcadero Station. It will end at Market and 8th streets, closest to Civic Center Station.  

Riders should expect large crowds at Embarcadero Station before 10am and large crowds all day at Civic Center Station, as well as heavy ridership to and from all Downtown San Francisco stations and 16th St Mission Station. Riders are encouraged to use Montgomery St and Powell St instead of Civic Center or Embarcadero stations.  

Tips for taking BART to the SF Pride Parade and Celebration 

• Before you leave home put a Clipper card on your cellphone through either Apple Pay or Google Pay. There is no $3 new-card fee for riders who add either of the mobile options. Please ensure you have sufficient funds for a round trip. 
• Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street and Civic Center stations can all be used to get to the parade route.
• Download the official BART app to plan your trip, get real-time departures, and pay for parking.
• Be patient. It could get crowded on trains and in our stations. BART’s busiest hours are expected to be from the parade start until 2pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm leaving the parade and celebration.
• When boarding trains, move to the center of the car so more people can fit and remove backpacks.
• Don’t jam a train door, which can take the whole train out of service. 

Getting to BART/Parking 

Consider taking a bus, getting dropped off, riding your bicycle, or walking to your station. 

BART offers free parking on weekends, except at Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations, which are owned by VTA and VTA's parking rates still apply. More info on parking at BART: bart.gov/parking.  

BART in the parade 

BART staff, their families, and friends will march in the San Francisco Pride Parade with the BARTmobile. 

New Pride stickers and Pride shirts are available on Railgoods. 

BART wishes everyone attending a safe and happy celebration!