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A group of Bay Area high schoolers are inspiring people to get on BART for Transit Month by doing something big, bold, and potentially record-breaking.  

On Sunday, September 14, starting at 10am, dozens of transit enthusiasts will gather at Millbrae Station and spend the next 5 hours and 55 minutes visiting every single BART station – and doing it as fast as possible.  

Speedrunning has become a big trend in transit. The idea is travel through every single stop on a transit system in as little time as possible. More than 20 speedrun attempts have been made on BART since 2012 (that BART knows about). BART tracks speedruns on our dedicated webpage.  

Co-organizers Harvy Chang, Matthew Leon, Seeger M, and David Rabinovich hope to see more than one hundred people turn out for what they’ve deemed Speedrun Day 2025, hosted by the California High School Transit Alliance (CalHSTA). During the BART speedrun, their comrades in Southern California will be speedrunning the San Diego Trolley.  

The organizers don’t foresee breaking any speed records on Sunday, but they do intend to gather the largest number of people for a single speedrun of any national transit agency ever. 

“We wanted to do this during Transit Month because gathering a bunch of people to have fun on transit is the spirit of the month,” said Chang, who meticulously planned the schedule for the day, down to the minute. View the full schedule here.  

On the train, there will also be trivia about the various stretches of track they're traveling on with transit-themed prizes.  

Speedrun Day is about making connections in the most literal sense – you miss one transfer, and you’re whole speedrun is thrown off – but also connecting with other transit riders, enthusiasts, and advocates. 

It’s also an efficient way to take un tour de Bay Area. BART is a massive system that covers a huge swath of the region. When you travel all 131 miles of BART trackway in six hours, you get an exhilarating sense of the patchwork of places, climates, and people that make up the region. 

Organizers encourage people to join for the full speedrun or to hop on along the route. If the group does miss a transfer, they’ll let folks know at the top of the schedule document and on social media (follow CalHSTA on Instagram and Bluesky).  

You’ll need $30 on your Clipper card to cover the cost of fares for the whole run (plus cost of travel to Millbrae Station). Organizers encourage attendees to bring water and whatever else they might need to comfortably ride trains for six hours. 

What: 53rd Anniversary BART Speedrun 

When: Sunday, September 14, starts at 10am at Millbrae Station 

Route/Schedule: docs.google.com/document/d/1MuIP_cFx_CLyOLAl5ALUdRu6MIdru02xsh3SkY-9feE/edit?usp=sharing  

RSVP: luma.com/yj73dmrc 

CalHSTA social media: Instagram (@calhstatransit) and Bluesky (@calhstatransit.org)  

More on BART Speedruns 

A speedrun is the total time it takes to travel through all BART stations. BART tracks speedrun records on bart.gov/news/fun/speedrun.  

In 2024, UC Berkeley grad students applied to the Guinness World Records to make speedrunning an official category. The current official GWR record is 5 hours, 47 minutes, and 35 seconds, though a new record of 5 hours, 43 minutes, and 10 seconds was submitted to GWR in July 2025 and awaits word from the organization. 

Listen to our podcast with some of BART’s most prolific speedrunners here.  

Did you do a BART speedrun with documentation that isn't listed? Even if it doesn't break a record, email us at [email protected] to be added to the page.  

Our speedrun page inspired some transit fans to start transitruns.org to provide a worldwide centralized website to compile leaderboards. The website details the basic of speedrunning, how to compile evidence, recommended timing standards, and other FAQs.

The BART Police Department recently implemented a new deployment strategy that has significantly reduced the number of mandatory overtime shifts required each month, cutting what was once nearly 400 mandatory fills to a far more manageable level, giving employees more predictable schedules and valuable time to recharge. 

Working closely with the BART Police Officers Association and the BART Police Managers Association, the department developed a strategy that prioritizes uniformed presence on trains and in stations with existing resources while protecting work-life balance for employees. 

That visible presence extends beyond sworn officers. Crisis Intervention Specialists, Fare Inspectors, Ambassadors, and Community Service Officers now play a key role alongside police officers in enhancing safety and service for riders.

BART PD’s partnership with its labor partners positions the department as a leader in law enforcement in prioritizing work-life balance. This focus compliments BART PD’s officer recruitment campaign as well as efforts to retain current staff.

BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin commended the staff for their daily commitment to rider safety, emphasizing that, “Safety within the BART system remains paramount. This strategy allows us to keep our system secure while also supporting the health and well-being of our staff.” 

He added, “Our officers and staff work tirelessly each day to protect community members and ensure BART remains a safe and reliable way to travel throughout the Bay Area.” 

BART PD is also focused on building a strong culture of wellness to help ensure the department can provide the highest level of service to the community.

The deployment plan directly aligns with BART’s Safe and Clean Plan, launched in late 2023, which focuses on improving the rider experience by expanding safety resources, increasing cleanliness, and upgrading fare gates across all 50 stations.

BART PD also continues its commitment to filling vacancies with both entry-level and lateral officers to further strengthen the department’s capacity. Those interested in a career with the department can learn more and apply at joinbartpd.com.

The BART Police Department’s Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau has won the American Public Transportation Association’s national Innovation Award. The Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau (PPCEB) has established itself as a national model by increasing BART’s safety presence while ensuring the system is welcoming to all members of the community. The PPCEB is a trail blazing part of the effort to ensure BART is the safest way to travel across the Bay Area.

“The members of the Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau are force multipliers for rider safety,” said BART PD interim Chief Kevin Franklin. “The bureau has become a national model with both transit and traditional law enforcement agencies reaching out to us to learn more about the innovative steps we’re taking to boost safety for our riders.”

The numbers show how the PPCEB is boosting rider safety. In the first six months of this year members of the PPCEB performed more than 10,700 welfare checks on people in the BART system who appeared to need help. There were more than 2,500 instances when PPCEB members intervened when they saw violations of BART’s Code of Conduct. In the past those violations would have required a response by a sworn officer. Instead, members of the PPCEB can offer a more appropriate response with unarmed, specially trained BART PD staff. That has freed up sworn officers to respond more quickly to urgent emergency calls. BART PD has one of the fastest response times for tier 1 emergency calls at an average of just more than 4 minutes.

The PPCEB is primarily composed of non-sworn Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists. These unarmed employees of BART PD receive specialized training in de-escalation techniques. Transit Ambassadors walk dozens of trains and platforms each day. They’re equipped with radios to report safety concerns. They observe, report, and call upon traditional sworn officers when enforcement is needed. Crisis Intervention Specialists have backgrounds in social work and specialize in connecting people at risk with potentially lifesaving services.

The PPCEB was launched in 2020. It was the first of its kind for a transit agency in the U.S. The BART PD model stands out because members of the PPCEB are full-time BART PD employees as opposed to contractors that many other systems rely on. The bureau builds on a history of more than a decade of reform efforts aimed at elevating equitable policing at BART. 
 

Beginning Monday, March 24, 2025, BART to Antioch train times will shift by several minutes to improve the connection with BART at the transfer platform in Pittsburg. 

We are lengthening the window of time for the regular BART train to connect to the BART to Antioch DMU train to improve the reliability of the transfer. While this will lengthen the total time for trips that include BART to Antioch service, it will significantly cut down on the number of missed transfers, which is currently causing even longer delays for Antioch riders.

This change means departure and arrival times at Antioch and Pittsburg Center stations are shifting by six or seven minutes depending on the direction of travel. We encourage Antioch and Pittsburg Center riders to look up the new train times before the change goes into effect. 

Trips from Antioch and Pittsburg Center toward SFO will leave seven minutes earlier than before. Trips from SFO towards Pittsburg Center and Antioch will arrive six minutes later.

For riders who rely on clock-face schedules, here is an example of the change:

• For the current schedule, trips at Antioch Station start on the 10/30/50 minutes after the hour and trips at Pittsburg Center start on the 17/37/57 minutes after the hour.
• For the new schedule, trips at Antioch Station start on the 03/23/43 minutes after the hour (except for the first three trains of the day) and trips at Pittsburg Center start on the 10/30/50 minutes after the hour.

The times for regular BART trains on the Yellow Line (Pittsburg/Bay Point to SFO) are unchanged. 

View the Yellow Line PDF timetable for weekday service.
View the Yellow Line PDF timetable for weekend service.

The Trip Planner is in the process of being updated, and riders will be able to see their new itineraries by selecting the date of March 24, 2025, and beyond.

“Making this transfer at Pittsburg work for our riders is very important to us,” said BART Board President Mark Foley, who represents BART to Antioch riders. “It is frustrating to riders when they must wait on the transfer platform with little information. The current schedule has too narrow of a window for the regular BART trains and the BART to Antioch DMU trains to line up. This change will improve the transfer. BART to Antioch riders have some of the longest and most expensive commutes, and I am grateful to the BART team for quickly making changes to prioritize this transfer and East Contra Costa County riders.”  

When BART’s reimagined schedule launches September 11, 2023, BART will begin to shorten the length of its least crowded trains to improve safety, allow for a cleaner fleet of cars, and maximize BART’s scarce resources. The adjustment of train lengths is consistent with our top priority of ensuring BART is the safest way to travel around the Bay Area.

Shorter trains mean:

•    More police and safety staff presence
•    Cleaner trains
•    Only new trains will be in service unless there is a need to run an old train
•    Fewer delays because new cars have double the reliability rate of old cars and we will have more standby trains available
•    $12 million is cost savings

BART will still run long trains during special events.

While BART plans to run shorter trains, we will remain very nimble and monitor crowded data on an hourly basis. Our commitment is to quickly add additional cars to trains if there is a high level of crowding, especially during peak commute hours. While we plan to launch this effort using 8-car and 6-car trains, we will quickly adjust as ridership grows.

Running trains with fewer cars will allow the BART Police Department to increase its visibility on trains and platforms while using the same number of staff. When there’s a call for service, officers can clear shorter trains much more quickly. Officers on train patrols will also be able to walk more of the in-service train cars.

“There is safety in numbers and that’s especially true on BART,” said BART PD interim Chief Kevin Franklin. “This change will allow us to have more eyes on train car as we continue to boost our visible safety presence with our officers and unarmed Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists. A lot of unwanted behavior will be deterred through the presence of more riders and potential witnesses in every train car.”

Shortening trains allows BART to run only Fleet of the Future trains for its base schedule. Legacy trains will still be used if they are needed during large events or if they are needed to replace a new train, but this move accelerates the retirement of the old fleet.

Sizing trains for safety is a direct response to feedback gathered through the Not One More Girl anti-harassment initiative. Eliminating empty and near-empty trains cars will create a safer, more welcoming environment for women, girls, gender non-conforming people, seniors, families, and all riders. BART encourages people concerned about safety to ride in the first car closest to the Train Operator. These changes have the effect of bringing the first car closer to all riders. Courtesy announcements will be increased about priority seating, removing backpacks, and no bikes on crowded cars.

BART will realize cost savings and efficiency gains through this change. BART is expected to save about $12 million annually through reduced power consumption and cars logging fewer operating hours. It will improve operational flexibility and cleaning crews will have fewer cars to focus on at end of the line stations.

“We want to show the entire region that we’re trying new things with safety in mind,” said Alicia Trost, Chief Communications Officer. “This is a change that will enhance safety and cleanliness while also saving money during our financial crisis without cutting service.”

View the Presentation to the BART Board of Directors.

BART’s efforts to reimagine the rider experience through an unprecedented commitment to safety and cleanliness appear to be making a difference at a San Francisco station with a history of issues. Recent Passenger Experience Survey (PES) data shows an increase in satisfaction with Civic Center/UN Plaza Station as well as a jump in the percent of respondents who say they feel positively about station cleanliness and safety. Among the findings:

• Satisfaction with the overall BART experience for riders who boarded BART at Civic Center Station increased 9 points from 68% to 77% in the latest quarter (October-December) compared with the previous quarter (July-September).
• Satisfaction with rider safety at Civic Center Station surged by 20 points from the previous quarter from 32 to 52%
• Ratings of concourse cleanliness shot up 18 points from 32% to 50%.
• Ratings of platform cleanliness increased by 17 points from 31% to 48%.

The improvements at Civic Center come as BART has implemented its Safe and Clean plan, which focuses on boosting BART PD’s visible safety presence and increasing station cleaning crews by nearly two thirds.

“Civic Center has been a challenging station but that hasn’t stopped us from tackling a difficult situation and bringing stakeholders along with us,” said BART Board of Directors President Bevan Dufty. “The investments being made at Civic Center make it clear that BART cares that people of all walks of life should be able to access a safe, clean, and reliable system.”

“Maintaining a consistent safety presence has been critical to improving the overall rider experience at Civic Center Station,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “Our presence involves traditional sworn officers as well as unarmed Crisis Intervention Specialists and Transit Ambassadors. Not only are we deterring bad behavior, but we have a Tier 1 emergency response time of about four minutes, which is among the fastest for any Bay Area law enforcement agency.”

Cleaning crews are now stationed at Civic Center during all BART operating hours on top of regular overnight power cleaning shifts. Every day there are 2-3 cleaners devoted specifically to the station. You can see an example of deep cleaning at Civic Center Station here.

BART has successfully boosted its cleaning staff but still has about 14 openings, which represents a vacancy rate of nearly 8%. BART is drawing from a list of qualified candidates to fill those positions. In the meantime, anyone interested in applying should visit BART’s Careers page and subscribe to receive notifications for when openings become available.

More improvements are on the way for Civic Center. The station was named earlier this month as one of the next eight in line to receive Next Generation Fare Gates once field testing of prototype units at West Oakland Station is complete. The Market Street Escalators Renovation Program is replacing 41 escalators at BART’s four downtown San Francisco stations including a new platform escalator that opened just last month at Civic Center. Within the last year BART reopened the Station Agent Booth at the UN Plaza entrance of the station which had been closed for more than a decade. Also, new canopies are being installed over entrances at all the downtown stations to make them more welcoming as well as to better protect escalators from the elements.

Click here to shop the BART holiday merch presale 

Update: Railgoods.com has extended the presale through August 17.

It’s chic and sophisticated. It’s cozy and warm. And it's available for preorder now.  

Introducing the 2025 BART holiday sweater.  

BART's holiday merchandise presale starts July 24, and runs through Sunday, August 17, on Railgoods.com. 

This year’s soft knit sweater is dashing and refined, colorful yet understated, and as always, it’s the best way to rep your BART and Bay Area pride during the winter season.  

The new sweater is available in your choice of blue, red, and green -- only blue adult sweaters will be available for purchase after the presale. Collect them all!  

And for the first time in BART holiday sweater history, we're offering a special BARTy sweater in youth sizes.  

Don't forget your beanie -- the new design pairs perfectly with the sweaters. 

Preordering ensures you'll get the BART holiday merch you want before it sells out! Sweaters and beanies ordered during the presale ship the first week of November, so you'll be the first to have your BART holiday merch in hand. 

“The Bay Area should buy this year’s BART holiday sweater because it’s an elevated version of the fan favorite,” said Director of Customer Services Erica Iñiguez-Diaz, noting that this year’s holiday merch is being produced by local small business Oaklandish. “In past years, our sweaters featured traditional or playful ugly sweater designs. This year, we’ve gone with more of a ski-style sweater—a sophisticated look that BART fans can proudly wear not just to holiday parties, but to work throughout the season.” 

BART was among the first public transit agencies in the U.S. to sell branded holiday sweaters, debuting its first design in 2021 followed by original designs each year thereafter. Sweater sales generate profit for the agency in addition to building community and generating goodwill. Last year alone, BART sold more than 5,700 holiday items.

The details + discount

Railgoods is offering $10 off when you spend $50 and $25 off when you spend $100 on holiday sweaters and beanies with discount codes HOLIDAY10 and HOLIDAY25.

Holiday merchandise purchased during the presale will ship and be available for pickup at the Lake Merritt Customer Services Center the first week of November.

If you don't preorder holiday merch during the presale, it will be available for purchase the first week of November via Railgoods; in-person at the BART Customer Services Center; and at Railgoods pop-ups at various BART stations (dates and locations to come). 

Sizes + Pricing: 

Adult Sweater – $49.99, S - 4XL  

Youth Sweater - $34.99, S (6/8), M (10/12), L (14/16), XL (18/20) 

Beanie – $15.99, one size 

SweaterFest returns Saturday, December 13 

SweaterFest returns on Saturday, December 13. We'll gather with the community and the thousands of people who own BART holiday sweaters to toast transit and the season with family-friendly activities, a group photo of everyone in their sweaters, and more.  

We’ll share additional details as the date approaches. Railgoods will be selling holiday merchandise at the event. 

Over the past year, BART has been engaging with our riders and employees via surveys and community meetings to determine our sustainability program priorities over the next decade. We have received your feedback and are excited to share a draft of our new 2026-2035 Sustainability Action Plan (SAP), which will serve as our roadmap for implementing our Sustainability Policy through 2035.  

The SAP outlines new goals, metrics, targets, and actions that will define our sustainability efforts, which means using energy and water more efficiently, reducing waste and emissions, improving access to BART stations, and delivering a quality experience for our riders. 

The draft of the 2026-2035 SAP will be available for viewing online until October 31, 2026, after which we will make final revisions and publish the completed document in December 2026. 

View the draft 2026-2035 Sustainability Action Plan

Please send any comments on the draft to [email protected] by October 31. 

Overview of 2026-2035 Sustainability Action Plan 

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is more than a transit system—it’s the backbone of the Bay Area. Every day, it connects people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and each other, linking key destinations across the region, including ferry terminals, airports, and other major transit systems. As the Bay Area grows and changes, BART’s role in supporting a more sustainable, resilient, and just future has never been more important. 

The 2026–2035 Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) outlines how BART will continue to support climate resilience, public well-being, and responsible environmental practices through its operations and services. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water to expanding access to clean, reliable transit, this plan reflects BART’s commitment to improving quality of life for all who live, work, and travel in the region. 

Sustainability covers both environmental and social factors – protecting the environment and the people within those environments go hand in hand. BART aims to create cleaner air, safer stations, and more accessible communities, helping make Bay Area transit essential and transformative. 

BART previously published a 2015-2025 SAP, which outlined our sustainability-related initiatives through calendar year 2025. We have taken many of the lessons learned from implementing that plan and applied them to our approach developing this new plan.  

BART will publish annual sustainability reports throughout the 2026–2035 SAP to track progress toward its 2030 targets and any interim goals along the way. These reports help ensure transparency, show what’s working, and highlight where course corrections may be needed. As part of this process, BART will update its targets in 2030 to set goals for 2035. 

For more information about other aspects of BART’s Sustainability program, please visit bart.gov/sustainability.