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Felony arrests on BART increased 62% last year compared with 2022. The jump comes as BART PD has been aggressively recruiting new officers and ensuring safety staff are riding more trains to increase their visible safety presence. BART officers recorded 726 felony arrests in 2023 compared with 448 for 2022. Along with those arrests 49 illegal firearms were seized in 2023 compared with 40 the previous year. It’s the most guns BART PD has recovered in a year since at least 2003. BART PD has already recovered a dozen firearms so far this year.

“These latest arrest and gun seizure numbers are a credit to all the hard work of our officers,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “Since we started deploying more patrol officers to ride trains we have seen an impact, and our riders are telling us they notice the difference.”

In the latest Quarterly Performance Review the percentage of riders who reported seeing BART PD on their trip reached a record high of 20%. That’s up from the previous record of 17% the previous quarter. The last two quarters have been the first in BART’s history where the percentage of riders who reported seeing BART PD exceed the department’s official goal of 12%.

BART has been working to implement its Safe and Clean Plan which focuses on boosting the visible safety presence in the system and increasing staffing to clean trains and stations.

BART PD has also been advancing an aggressive officer recruitment campaign to fill its remaining vacancies. This effort has been boosted by a 22% salary increase for officers, which was approved by the BART Board to ensure BART PD remains competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. Anyone interested in joining BART PD can learn more at joinbartpd.com.

(Examples of recently seized guns)

BART PD’s aggressive public outreach campaign to hire more officers is getting a boost from a just released recruitment video. The new video highlights the real-world experience of BART PD officers and shows what it’s like to work in a dynamic transit environment. The department has been going all-out to fill all its vacant officer positions. In the latest quarter BART PD received 837 officer applications, a record high for any quarter in the department’s history.

“This video is the latest tool we are adding to our hiring arsenal,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin.  “We have been reaching out to officer candidates by hosting recruitment open houses, attending job fairs,  promoting open positions on social media, and various other methods of outreach. We are doing whatever it  takes to find high-quality candidates who want to join  us on our mission of ensuring that BART is the safest  way to travel around the Bay.”

BART PD currently has 23 officer vacancies, which is down from 29 just two months ago. BART PD is now onboarding 7-9 new officers per month.

A key focus of BART PD’s recruitment campaign has been to highlight the recent 22% salary increase for officers. The BART Board of Directors approved that increase in June to ensure pay at BART PD remains competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. Since that time, BART PD has seen a nearly 50% increase in its monthly sworn officer new hire rate. The pay increase is in addition to the $15,000 hiring bonus currently being offered to new hires. BART PD has increased the frequency of its testing and has also streamlined the hiring process so qualified candidates can join the department more quickly.

BART PD has launched the Join BART PD website, which is exclusively geared towards providing candidates with all the information they need to apply. Since its launch in July the site has attracted more than 80,000 views.

BART will run a Sunday service schedule for Thanksgiving this year. This means on Thursday, November 28, 2024, BART hours will be 8am-midnight with all five lines running until 9pm and three lines running from 9pm-midnight. 

On Friday, November 29, we will be running regular weekday service (5am-midnight). 

Free parking at BART on Thanksgiving Day  

Parking will be free at all stations except for Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose, which are operated by the Valley Transportation Authority. All other parking rules will be enforced. 

The day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29, is not a parking holiday. Those who need to park can purchase Daily Fee parking using the official BART app. Click here for instructions to pay by app. 

Parking at a BART station for your Thanksgiving trip 

Airport parking can be a hassle and is always expensive, except at BART stations. We offer inexpensive multi-day parking (see options below) at many stations with easy online reservations. Purchase parking on the official BART app or pay by website. 

Single/Multi-Day Reserved parking is for consecutive overnight stays of up to 20 weekdays. You will need to provide the license plate of the car you plan to drive and a phone number. Reference our guide for paying for Single/Multi-Day Reserved parking here.

Monthly Reserved parking is for stays of up to 24 hours at a time, charged on a recurring monthly basis, and provides a guaranteed space until 10am. This is not to be used while travelling for several days in a row.

Reserved parking signs are blue + white or yellow. During the holidays we experience a higher demand in Reserved parking; if there is not a reserved spot available when you arrive, park in the Daily Fee area and you will not be cited. Daily Fee parking is only allowed in the Daily Fee area. 

Another option to travel to SFO via BART is to purchase Multi-Day Reserved parking and drive to Millbrae Station or San Bruno Station, then take a quick ride to SFO Airport. 

Find an overview of parking at BART at bart.gov/parking. 

Taking BART to SFO or OAK 

Traveling by plane for the holiday? It’s easy to ride BART to the airport. You can take the train directly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). Plan your trip and find fares by using BART’s online Trip Planner and read our comprehensive guide on riding BART to the airport.  

*Sold Out

Today, January 6, BART, in partnership with SF Sketchfest, announces “SF Sketchfest: On the Rails,” a one-of-a-kind rolling comedy show on Saturday, January 24, from 2pm to 4:30pm. The event will start and end at 12th St./Oakland City Center Station in Downtown Oakland. 

The roving comedy show will transform a moving BART train into a live performance venue, offering audiences the opportunity to laugh and ride with four SF Sketchfest comedians as the train travels across the East Bay and back. The annual comedy festival returns this January with over 200 shows and 500+ performers in Bay Area venues, many of which are accessible by BART!

The onboard comedy experience will feature rapid-fire 15-minute sets from comedians Brent Weinbach, Brittany Carney, Natasha Vinik, and Hunaid Shakoor. Audience members will listen through provided headphones, creating a silent-disco-style comedy experience unlike anything else at the festival. The event is for audiences 18 and up.

Tickets are $20 and available only on Railgoods.com. Tickets will not be for sale at the event and must be purchased in advance.

SF Sketchfest: On the Rails is an extension of BART's community-focused programming, centered around developing exciting new transit experiences that celebrate BART and bring the community together on trains and in stations. In 2025, BART hosted multiple onboard events, including a speed-dating “Valentraine” and May the Fourth ride, and station events, such as a family movie night, holiday celebration, and anime festival. By activating BART trains and stations, BART is encouraging people to take transit and experience the New BART – a system that is safe, clean, and easy to use for riders of all ages.

“BART is excited to partner with SF Sketchfest and take these performers where no comedians have gone before: on the rails on a rolling BART train,” said Dave Martindale, Director of Marketing at BART. “This is another opportunity to show riders that BART can be clean, safe, and fun, and we’re glad SF Sketchfest is on board.”

“Many people tell us that attending an SF Sketchfest show can be a moving experience. And now, thanks to BART, we are literally creating a moving experience onboard a BART train with some of our favorite comedians,” said SF Sketchfest co-founder David Owen.

The full SF Sketchfest lineup can be found at sfsketchfest.com.

About SF Sketchfest

SF Sketchfest, co-founded and directed by David Owen, Cole Stratton, and Janet Varney, produces the eclectic San Francisco Comedy Festival, the longest-running comedy festival in the U.S. SF Sketchfest is an internationally recognized and critically acclaimed event that mixes major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming comedians from around the world for over two weeks of sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts and more. SF Sketchfest offers its audiences the rare opportunity to see their favorite performers in intimate live performances and discussions.

The BART Police Department recently welcomed 11 new members during a formal pinning ceremony hosted by Chief of Police Kevin Franklin. 

The new hires were celebrated by the department and their families as Chief Franklin presented their badges and certificates. This is a significant achievement marking their official welcome to the force and the completion of their initial training.  

The new members of the team come from a variety of backgrounds, and we honor their unique experiences that will bolster the department’s ongoing focus on community-oriented progressive policing. 

Click thru the above slideshow to learn more about BART PD's newest members. To pause the slideshow, click and hold an image.

BART has been working to boost its safety presence in the system with significant recruitment efforts that help to ensure the department is fully staffed and able to respond to incidents swiftly and with appropriate resources. Read more about BART's safety efforts, including increasing officer and unarmed safety presence on trains and in stations, by visiting bart.gov/safeandclean. 

BART PD is actively hiring for a variety of roles, including non-sworn positions! To learn more about BART PD careers or to chat with a member of the BART PD team, visit JoinBARTPD.com. BART PD also hosts quarterly open houses (the next is in November) and virtual open houses. Details will be posted on the BART Police Department Facebook page.

This September, the BART Anime Project invites the public to Let’s Glow! BART Anime Festival – a novel community gathering that celebrates anime, art, music, and transit.  

On Saturday, September 6, join BART anime mascots Baylee, Nimbus, Jasmine, Mira, and BARTy for this unique event that will bring artists, live DJs, dance lessons, boba, and more to Warm Springs/South Fremont Station.  

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What: Let’s Glow! BART Anime Festival 

When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 4:30pm to 8pm 

Where: Warm Springs/South Fremont Station plaza 

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BART's anime mascots are inspiring youth to ride public transit by making it exciting and accessible. Nearly half of Gen Z in the U.S. – a growing and reliable ridership demographic – watches anime, and BART’s mascots help us meet young people where they’re at, building connections and relationships through their own interests.  

Let us know you're coming to this free event (RSVPing is not required to attend): bartletsglow.eventbrite.com/ 

Giveaway! The first 50 people who arrive by BART will get a free Let’s Glow \ light stick /. Find BART anime mascot Mira by the Station Agent booth to get your light stick before they’re all gone. Show them off at the festival as @sanflare teaches the crowd a choreographed wotagei dance. We’ll also sell a limited number of Let’s Glow light sticks at the event. 

What to expect at Let’s Glow: 

• An artist alley featuring art inspired by transit, anime, games, and more!
• Fan club & community tables. Find your crowd like a club fair in college.
• Food & boba stands, with exclusive themed drinks based on the BART Anime Mascots! 

• Live DJs from AniClover! 

• Free dance & wotagei lessons with SanFlare 

• Shortly after sunset, we will all dance together. Be sure to bring your light sticks if you have them.  

• Itasha arranged by Dreamscape: bold, anime-inspired cars and scooters
• Railgoods Popup Shop, featuring original BART merch 

• VTubers! Meet & greet your favorite virtual creators at the OffKai Expo table. VTuber Research Club will also bring their roaming robots. 

• An exclusive eki stamp~ 

• Art boards! 

• Lantern decoration! 

Learn more about BART’s anime mascots and their real-life inspirations, download coloring sheets and cosplay guides, and stay up to date with the project at bart.gov/anime. Purchase BART anime merch on Railgoods.com. 

If you’re interested in hosting a fan club or community table at the festival, a limited number of spaces are available. Apply at https://bart-anime.notion.site/240b53326cb2813d8c91d563abce18ef?pvs=105 

December ridership rose 13.5% year over year, capping a year of steady growth for BART. 

The ridership gains reflect the continued impact of the New BART experience, a systemwide focus on customer experience improvements. Recent investments in safety, cleanliness, and innovative offerings, such as Next Generation Clipper and a new BART App integration with Uber, are helping strengthen rider confidence and bring people back to the system.  

Even with these gains, ridership growth alone won’t solve BART’s budget shortfalls. While most riders have returned to BART, they are riding less frequently, resulting in fewer trips. The Bay Area has the highest work-from-home rates in the nation, and BART ridership closely mirrors office occupancy. 

Each 5% increase in ridership translates to about $13 million a year in new revenue, and to close BART's ongoing structural financial deficit of $350-$400 million with just fare revenue, ridership would need to more than double.  

Highlights from the December Ridership Snapshot: 

• Weekend ridership showed a steady increase this December, in keeping with 2025 trends. Saturday ridership in December rose 23% year over year, while Sunday ridership increased nearly 13%, underscoring the system’s expanding role in leisure, airport, and non-work travel. 
• 13% of all BART trips were taken using Tap and Ride, which allows riders to pay by tapping a contactless credit or debit card at the fare gates. Usage climbed toward the end of the month as travelers and casual riders hopped onboard around the holidays. Ridership at SFO Station alone increased 14% compared with December 2024. 
• On December 10, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission began the rollout of Next Generation Clipper, a fare payment system upgrade that expanded Tap and Ride to all Clipper agencies and introduced additional improvements, including free or discounted transfers between operators and enhanced online account management at clippercard.com. 20% of all free or discounted transfers in the Bay Area included a leg on BART in December, and two-thirds of all Tap and Ride trips were on BART, reinforcing BART’s role as the backbone of the regional transit network. 
• BART trips using Clipper BayPass increased 157% year over year as more employers, schools, and housing providers adopted the all-in-one transit pass for employees, students, and residents. Nineteen organizations are enrolled in Clipper BayPass, as of January 2026. 
• Clipper START usage grew by nearly 40% in December compared to a year ago. Clipper Senior trips increased by more than 10%. 

Additional ridership data is published monthly at bart.gov/about/reports/ridership.