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New video boosts BART PD effort to hire more officers
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 closes at 9 pm until 8/2/21 when midnight service returns Monday-Saturday
On July 1, 2021 we announced will return to near-pre pandemic service on August 2 instead of August 30 as originally planned. BART currently closes at 9pm. However, we run special event trains for the SF Giants night games, the Oakland A's night games and San Francisco's 4th of July fireworks. And from July
BART adds cars to handle demand after tanker fire shuts down I-880
BART is closely monitoring passenger loads and will adjust train sizes whenever possible to accommodate increased ridership as a result of the continued closure of I-880 following this morning’s fiery tanker crash that shutdown a portion of the freeway near 16th Avenue. Caltrans tells BART that it expects
BART runs regular service the day after Thanksgiving (11/29)
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.
25 years after Loma Prieta quake: BART, then a lifeline, now stronger than ever
BART Stronger Than Ever Mother Nature provides few guarantees but this much is certain: A major earthquake will strike the Bay Area. Precisely when, where and how strong it will be are mysteries, but BART isn’t waiting to find out. Instead, we are employing a two-pronged approach to prepare for the inevitable
BART riders can get virtual commemorative token for new West Dublin/Pleasanton Station
An example of what the token will look like when unlocked. Visitors to BART’s new West Dublin/Pleasanton Station, BART’s 44th station that is opening on Feb. 19, can try a first-of-its-kind experience – using augmented reality technology to unlock a 3-D virtual commemorative token. The token is an outgrowth
BART reopens long-closed Station Agent booth at Civic Center/UN Plaza Station
Station Agent Tina McDonald is pictured in the newly reopened secondary Station Agent booth at Civic Center/UN Plaza Station. A long-closed secondary Station Agent booth has officially reopened at Civic Center/UN Plaza Station, bolstering BART’s ongoing efforts to enhance the rider experience and increase
What BART PD's newest hires did before joining the department
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.
Center for Policing Equity and BART PD release findings from policing practices study
Today, the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) and the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department (BPD) released the findings of an analysis on the department’s policing practices and behaviors. Conducted as part of CPE’s National Justice Database (NJD) project, the report examined the incidences of vehicle stops
BART presents “SF Sketchfest: On the Rails,” a live comedy performance on a train
*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.