Search

BART will participate in the 2024 International ShakeOut Day earthquake drill on Thursday, October 17, to test our emergency response systems and to help raise public awareness of the importance of having a plan and being prepared.

At 10:17am, 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 27 mph. 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.

Amid an overall decline in crime and an increase in BART PD’s visible safety presence BART is posting 400 posters inside its Fleet of the Future train cars targeting unwanted activities such as harassment, smoking, and unruly behavior. The new signs proclaim, “Unruly behavior can ruin a ride.” They back up BART’s commitment to a safe ride by emphasizing BART PD in 2024 issued 5,000 Code of Conduct citations and 16,500 fare evasion-related citations. 

“These new posters are a way for us to tell our riders that we hear their concerns about safety and are enforcing the Code of Conduct,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “The posters are helpful, but the real work in making BART safer is being done on a daily basis by both our sworn and non-sworn staff who are helping us deliver on our pledge to double our visible presence in the system.” 

BART is continuing to implement its Safe and Clean Plan as it continues to welcome riders back to the system. Crime was down 17% in 2024 even as BART ridership increased by 2.6 million trips from the previous year.  

BART’s commitment to rider safety includes the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at all 50 stations by the end of this year. The new gates have already been installed at 27 stations and are making a difference in deterring fare evasion. The public is noticing the difference already with a nearly one-third decline in the number of riders who report seeing fare evasion during their trip. 

Anyone who sees unruly behavior on BART can text BART PD at 510-200-0992. You can also download the free BART Watch app, which allows you to send a discreet text description of what you’re seeing along with a photo. 

Note: There will be no change to our current weekday service on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. 

Ahead of Veterans Day, BART celebrates employees who served and acknowledges their ongoing commitment to public service.

"There are more than 200 military veterans in our BART family who each and every day contribute their experiences, values, and expertise to our organization," said General Manager Bob Powers. "We all benefit from what they bring to BART, as do our riders."   

Last month, BART Communications reached out to BART veterans with a few questions: How are the lessons and skills you gained in the military reflected in your work at BART? Why did you wish to continue your public service in a different capacity? Why are you proud to be a BART employee and a veteran?

You can read their responses in the slideshows on this page. To pause on an image, left click and hold your cursor on the image.

BART salutes our nation's veterans and thanks them for their service. 

Each year,  Engineers Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the problem-solvers who shape the world around us. This includes the hundreds of BART engineers bringing to life ambitious projects that are redefining how the Bay Area moves. From advanced train control systems to strengthened electrical infrastructure, BART’s engineers are enacting the theme of this year’s Engineers Week – Transform Your Future – every single day. 

BART's engineering workforce spans dozens of specialties, from civil and structural to traction power and construction management, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse expertise comes together to tackle large-scale challenges. Their work ensures the system remains safe, resilient, and ready for what's to come.  

“Engineers are at the heart of everything we do at BART,” said General Manager Bob Powers, a Professional Engineer himself. “Their work doesn’t just improve BART operations – it strengthens communities and ensures that everyone who lives here has access to enriching opportunities and experiences.”  

“BART’s engineers are truly an elite group of puzzle solvers driven by a passion for making a difference for the Bay Area” said Sylvia Lamb, Assistant General Manager for Infrastructure Delivery.  “They leverage industry expertise to deliver safe reliable service for today’s passengers while maintaining an innovative vision for transforming tomorrow’s.” 

What are BART engineers working on? Keep reading to hear about some of the exciting projects happening around the system.  

Next Generation Fare Gates 

BART recently completed installation of its Next Generation Fare Gates at all stations, modernizing fare control equipment for the first time in decades.  

The new gates feature advanced sensors, improved accessibility for people using wheelchairs, bikes, and strollers, and a more secure, durable design that helps deter fare evasion while improving passenger flow. The systemwide rollout was completed ahead of schedule and is already enhancing reliability and the overall rider experience. BART engineers are now using the fare gate’s advanced sensors to optimize their performance. 

Communications-Based Train Control

One of the most ambitious efforts underway is Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC), which will replace BART’s legacy fixed-block signal system with a modern, communications-based platform. The project represents a generational upgrade to rail operations, fundamentally changing how the agency manages train movement, capacity, and reliability for decades to come. By allowing trains to operate more precisely and closer together, CBTC will increase throughput through the busiest parts of the system, including the transbay corridor, helping deliver more frequent and dependable service. 

Implementing the technology requires installing new trackside communications equipment, onboard systems, and advanced control software while maintaining daily passenger service. It is widely considered one of the most ambitious signaling modernizations in U.S. transit and showcases the scale and technical complexity of BART’s engineering work. 

Traction Power Cable Replacement 

Behind every BART trip is a vast electrical network that supplies power to the trains. BART’s traction power cable replacement program is renewing aging 34.5kV sub-transmission cables that distribute electricity from substations to traction power facilities across the system. 

Replacing these decades-old cables improves reliability, increases capacity, and reduces the risk of service disruptions, ensuring trains have the consistent power needed to provide continuous and frequent service. The new cables will also be used for traction power substation control and to monitor other vital BART assets. 

Investing in the Next Generation of Engineers 

The 2025 BART Engineering Interns are pictured at BART HQ. From left to right: Israel Banez, Alexa Banuelos, Thi Phan, Kevin Nguyen, Miguel Coronado, Kai Gottschalk, Devine Pritchard, Aidan Tamayo, Gianna Pietro, Yonas Isaak Mussie, Alexandro Silva. 

Engineers Week is also about inspiring future problem-solvers. BART’s Engineering Internship Program provides paid, hands-on opportunities for college students and recent graduates to work directly with staff engineers on active capital, maintenance, and a wide range of other engineering projects and initiatives. Interns gain experience in areas such as design support, field inspections, construction coordination, data analysis, and systems testing, and the opportunity to apply core engineering principles and contribute to real-world improvements across stations, track, power, and train control. Five engineering interns who participated in the 2025 program were later hired full-time as Junior Engineers.

Students interested in learning more can visit bart.gov/internships. The application period will open this spring.  

Outside Lands is the Bay Area’s biggest music festival, with thousands of people coming to experience the three-day event in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. This year, the event will be from Friday, August 9 through Sunday, August 11. 

There is no on-site parking at the festival and street parking will be extremely limited. Skip the hassle and take BART + Muni.

Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.

Getting There

While BART doesn't offer direct service to Golden Gate Park, you can take BART and transfer to SF Muni or Outside Lands prepaid local shuttles to get to the event. Muni is offering extra service on the N Judah and 5R Fulton Rapid.

BART will run regular service until around midnight on each night of the festival. 

From BART to Outside

Exit at Montgomery Station and take the 5R Fulton Rapid, 5 Fulton, 38R Geary Rapid or 38 Geary Bus to the Main Gate. 

You can also transfer at any downtown station to the N Judah, exit at Judah/34th Ave and walk to the South Gate.

From Outside Lands Back to BART

You can head back the same way you came or catch a special direct bus service—the 5 Fulton Civic Center Express. Pick up this bus by the Outside Lands gates at Fulton/30th Ave or Fulton/25th Ave. The buses will travel non-stop to Civic Center/UN Plaza BART station for drop off.

If you are taking the Outside Lands shuttle, exit at Civic Center/UN Plaza and head to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium across the street from the station.

For more transportation options from BART to the festival, see the travel & transport section of the Outside Lands info page.

BART Parking is free after 3 PM on Friday and is free on Saturday and Sunday except for the Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations, which are not operated by BART. 

To save time and hassle, it is recommended you get a Clipper card in advance with round trip fare loaded. You can add Clipper to your mobile wallet and pay for BART fares with Google Pay and Apple Pay.