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Update 1/28/26: Valentraine is sold out. You must have an event ticket to ride, and walk-ups will not be accommodated on the day of the event.

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BART train #143 is coming to town for one night only! This Valentine’s Day, find love on a different kind of dating platform.  

Valentraine is pulling into 16th St. Mission Station on Saturday, February 14, for a night of speed dating (and friend making) that could change your life. Don’t miss the opportunity to make a connection – no offboarding required – as our special event train zips down the rails for a magical evening that might just put your love life back on track.  

Participants will board the train at 16th St. Mission Station and ride to Millbrae and back with no stops. During the hourlong trip, BART staff in each car will signal participants to rotate seats for short conversations with fellow riders. If sparks fly, participants can choose to exchange contact info.  

To reserve your seat, purchase a $5 ticket on Railgoods.com. 

Registration is required, and walk-ups will not be accommodated. 

What: Valentraine speed dating 

Where: 16th St. Station (starts and ends). Accessibility info: There are two elevators at 16th St. Take the street elevator at 16th St. and Mission St. (northeast side) to access the concourse. There is another elevator in the paid area that travels to the platform. Reference this map.  

When: Saturday, Feb. 14. Check-in starts at 5pm on the concourse of the station (in the paid area). Participants must arrive no later than 5:40pm. The train returns to 16th St. at 7pm. 

Who: Anyone ages 21 and up!

Register: Purchase a $5 ticket on Railgoods.com. Registration is required, and walk-ups will not be accommodated. 

Adults ages 21 and up of all gender identities and sexual orientations are welcome onboard, as well as those just looking to make friends. Four cars will be reserved for speed dating with ~50 people on each.  

Event organizers will ask registrants what they are looking for ahead of the event, so they can assign cars accordingly. Please keep in mind this event takes place on a train with limited space and matchmaking is not a typical service BART provides, so we’ll do our best to assign cars to give you the best odds for finding a match.  

Cost of admission does not include BART fare, so calculate your fare using BART’s Fare Calculator ahead of time. If you are entering and exiting at 16th St. Mission, you will need $7.55 on your Clipper card for the excursion fare, or pay with Tap and Ride. BART’s Customer Code of Conduct must be followed every time you ride BART, including onboard the Valentraine. 

Valentraine was a hit last year, and many participants left with a potential date’s digits and new friends. As one person told us after the event, “Thank you for making me popular.” While we have yet to hear reports of Valentraine weddings or babies, the night proved that meeting someone new doesn’t require an algorithm – you just gotta be along for the ride. 

 

 

 

 

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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. 

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. 
• 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 running shorter trains to increase the number of people in each car.
• 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.
• Conducting welfare checks for the unhoused and enforcing no drug use or smoking. 

Commitment to New Fare Gates

• Taller, stronger fare gates to deter fare evasion are being installed.
  • Pilot fare gates installed at West Oakland Station.
  • 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.
• Retired all old trains, only new trains are in service.
• Adding nearly 66% more dedicated crews working to keep stations clean.
• Staffing restrooms at high-volume stations with attendants to guarantee cleanliness and safety.

Adapting Service to Attract New Riders

• New train schedule increases emphasis on ridership growth opportunities and relies less on outdated commuting models.
  • Increased service on nights and weekends, eliminates 30-minute wait times. 
  • Improved scheduled transfers. 
  • Service on BART’s busiest weekday line, the Yellow Line, increases trains 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.

Canceled trips nearly eliminated.
Increased Clipper START fare discount for low-income riders to 50%.
Offering Clipper BayPass, where employers purchase all-you-can-ride transit passes for employees.

Making it Easy to Explore Attractions Near BART

• Visit our BARTable section for:
  • Eats and drinks near BART
  • Bike adventures accessible by BART
  • Lists of museums and places to shop near BART
  • Lists of weekend activities near BART
  • Contests and deals from BARTable partners

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.”

1/1/24 update: the Clipper START discount for people with limited income has increased to 50%.

BART is participating in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s new means-based fare program by offering a 20% discount per trip to adult riders age 19-64 whose household incomes are no more than twice the federal poverty level.

The Clipper START program also offers discounts of 50% off fares for Muni, Caltrain and select Golden Gate Transit and Ferry routes*.

Clipper START is an 18-month pilot program initiated by Bay Area transit agencies and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) that uses the Clipper transit fare payment system to reduce the cost of transportation for adults whose household incomes are no more than twice the federal poverty level (for example, $52,400 for a family of four). This can be an important benefit, as transportation costs are a significant burden on many households, particularly during the current economic climate

“MTC has a long history of serving low-income residents through community-based planning and other programs,” said MTC Chair Scott Haggerty. “Clipper START is really expanding that commitment to make transit more affordable to a wider group of people. We’re excited to see how many will take advantage of this pilot program.”

Applicants to the pilot program can provide a copy of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card or Medi-Cal card, a county benefits eligibility letter, their Muni Lifeline card number or a copy of their last federal tax return to demonstrate their eligibility. Once approved, they will receive a personalized Clipper card that must be loaded with cash value before use.

The Clipper START discounts are automatically applied whenever the card is used on participating transit agencies. Clipper START is not a transit pass—it is a program that offers discounts for single rides on Muni, BART, Caltrain, and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry. The card also can be used just like a standard Clipper card to pay for fares on any agency that accepts Clipper.

Anyone interested in Clipper START can learn more about the program and apply online at clipperstartcard.com. The website walks you through the application process, tells you what documents you need to upload, and allows you to save your progress and return later to complete your application.

To learn more about Clipper START and apply online, visit clipperstartcard.com

Find answers to frequently asked questions here

*excluding local bus rides within Marin County, some East Bay bus fares, and Oracle Park and Chase Center ferry service.