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Engineers Week, held annually the third week of February, is a weeklong celebration of the engineers, technicians, and technologists whose work makes a difference in our world.  

Engineers at BART play a critical role in keeping our riders safe and on the move. Our agency is home to more than 180 engineers who encompass a staggering number of disciplines, from structures and electrical to traction power and computer systems (to name just a few).  

“As a Professional Engineer myself, I am routinely impressed and inspired by BART’s engineers,” said General Manager Bob Powers. “I thank each and every one of them for their ongoing work to imagine and implement projects that improve and advance our system.” 

Over the past year, our engineers have launched and progressed an array of major projects, including but not limited to: 

• Next Generation Fare Gates (systemwide replacement of our 20-year-old fare gates) 
•  Communications-Based Train Control, or CBTC (replacement of the systemwide signaling system) 
• Rail Inspection Vehicle, or RIV (our newly acquired geometry car with advanced track inspection capabilities that will transform our rail operations) 
• 34.5kV Cable Replacement (inspection and replacement of 34.5 kV cables along the M‐Line and R-Line), Civic Center Station Scissor Stairs (part of Measure RR system improvements, adding two additional "scissored" staircases at both ends of the station) 
• The Transbay Tube Seismic Retrofit (installation of a steel liner plates, and new water pumping system inside the tube).  

“BART engineers are some of the most hardworking, knowledgeable, and creative in the business, and they ensure we are honoring our commitment to riders to provide safe, clean, and reliable train service,” said Sylvia Lamb, Assistant General Manager of the Office of Infrastructure Delivery. “Our engineers are also working tirelessly to develop opportunities for innovation and the utilization of cutting-edge technology so that we may honor this commitment for years to come.” 

A photo of newly hired junior engineers. Pictured: (Back row left to right) Venus Ku, Christian Chaves, Hein Htet San, Mariela Gonzalez, Jia Wu, and Richard Devera. (Front row left to right) Artem Morozov, Brendan Dolan, Kevin Pham, Audrey Chuakay, and Peyton Hill. Not pictured: Jacob-Crispulo Rojo.  

The theme of Engineers Week is "Welcome to the Future," and that could not be more relevant to all of us at BART. In the last six months, we’ve welcomed 12 junior engineers in a multitude of disciplines. Their insight will strengthen and enhance our ongoing engineering projects as well as those that will be undertaken in the coming months, years, and decades. Welcome aboard! 

BART currently has job postings for engineer roles, as well as a robust Summer Engineering Internship Program for students. Learn more at bart.gov/jobs. 

"Some people read, some people work, some people apply makeup,” says Joanna Sokua of riding BART. “I draw.”  

Since 2017, Sokua has been creating what she calls “BARToons” during her morning and evening commute. You might say she is a seasoned BARTist. In the past seven years, she has drawn more than 170 BART illustrations. While on the train, she snaps photos of scenes and passengers that spark an idea, and when she gets home, she’ll sketch them out or, most often, superimpose pop culture figures onto the images using a digital pen.  

The drawings depict Scooby Doo and Shaggy waiting for a train; Van Gough seated near the doors with a pipe and bandage over his ear; Doc Brown and Marty McFly from Back to the Future standing on a legacy train; Clark Kent looking at his phone with his Superman suit peeking out. Sometimes, she’ll just draw a passenger as they are, sitting on the train engrossed in whatever they’re doing. 

Sokua works in banking, helping small business owners secure financing for their ventures. She is one of many artists who have been inspired by their BART rides, from photographers roused by the system's striking angles to novelists who wrote their books almost entirely onboard. There have even been plays set on BART trains. 

On her BART ride from the East Bay to her office in San Francisco, Sokua is not thinking about her data-and-dollars day job. Mostly, she’s looking for subjects to draw. The creative exercise helps her unwind, and it’s deeply entertaining for those who keep up with her work on her Instagram (@the_und3rwrit3r), where she regularly posts her latest drawings.  

The artist said she doesn’t board a train with an idea for her next drawing. She simply waits for inspiration to strike. 

“People always ask me how I decide what to draw,” she said. “It just comes to me. I see something, and I know exactly what I want to do.” A drawing of Jack Sparrow was born after seeing a fellow rider in a headband on her train, for example.  

BART proves ripe for inspiration because “you see people from all walks of life,” Sokua said. She’s even made friends onboard.  

“I take the same train every day at the same time. You see the same people over and over,” she said. “It becomes a sort of community actually." 

Most of the time, people don’t know Sokua has used them for a drawing, though sometimes they find themselves or their loved ones on her Instagram page. One memorable instance was when she drew a man who “looked like Jesus” sitting next to a woman praying over a rosary. It's one of her favorite drawings, least of all because the man’s wife saw the drawing on Instagram and commented, “That’s my personal Jesus!” Once, she drew an Oscar the Grouch cartoon, and the person operating the train found the image on Facebook, commenting something to the effect of, “Hey! I was operating that train!”  

Sokua said she creates her BARToons to “make people laugh and make their rides more fun.”  

She doesn’t want to offend with her drawings, she just thinks everyone can always use a healthy dash of humor in their day.  

“You might as well make the most of your commute,” she said, adding that she “100% recommends” doodling on BART.

It's time for Bach in the Subways, a global celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach and his enduring music that invites musicians to play music in public spaces -- including BART stations! 

Performances take place between March 21 and 31 in the non-paid areas of stations. Enjoy the music as you pass through or come down for a special treat! Find the performance schedule -- which is subject to change -- below and on the Bach in the Subways website. 

Local musicians: There is still time to sign up to play music at BART. Follow the steps below under "How to play at a BART station."

Schedule

This schedule is subject to change.

Friday, March 21, 9am to 10am - Orinda Station 

Violin duet with assorted Suzuki and Bach

Friday, March 21, 2:30pm to 4:30pm  - 19th St./Oakland Station

Pythagoras - drone flute and ocarina 

Friday, March 21, 4pm start - Downtown Berkeley Station 

Junior Bach - young musicians play classical music and Bach

Saturday, March 22, 9am to 11am - Fremont Station 

Tre Corde - violin, viola, and cello trio to play six trio sonatas, BWV 525-530

Saturday, March 22, 10am to 12pm - Downtown Berkeley Station

Ruth and Alex - violin duet

Saturday, March 22, 4pm start - Fremont Station 

Audacity

Monday, March 24, 4pm start - Richmond Station

Ptrillaphatbeatzent 

Tuesday, March 25, 1:15pm to 2:15pm - Glen Park Station

Aiden and Scout - violin, piano, voice performance of Partita No. 2 Allemande, Prelude No. 1 C Major

Thursday, March 27, noon to 1pm - Coliseum Station 

Sarah Chavarria - solo violin performance of J.S. Bach Sonata no. 1 in G minor

Thursday, March 27, 2pm to 4pm - Hayward Station

Joyful accordion music - accordion duet of the Snow Waltz

Friday, March 28, 6pm to 8pm - San Bruno Station

Discotuba - trio of sousaphone, keyboard, and drums plays Jon Batiste-inspired versions of "the hits"

Saturday, March 29, 11:30am to 12:30pm - Powell St. Station

Bach Choralistas - vocal performance

Saturday, March 29, 11:30am to 12:30pm - Montgomery St. Station

Bach Choralistas - vocal performance

Saturday, March 29, 11:30am to 12:30pm - Embarcadero Station

Bach Choralistas - vocal performance

Saturday, March 29, 3pm to 4pm - Pittsburg/Bay Point Station

Marz LLC

Saturday, March 29, 5pm to 6pm - Downtown Berkeley

Eric H.

Sunday, March 30, 2pm to 4:35pm - Orinda Station

Bach-ish - singing duet with oboe and flute

Sunday, March 4pm to 6pm - Powell St. Station

Brittany Xiao

Monday, March 31, 4pm to 5pm - Downtown Berkeley Station

UC Jazz

How to play at a BART station

You are welcome to register as a solo artist or with a group. Playing Bach isn't a requirement, but it is recommended.

1) Register here.  
‪2) Apply for BART's free Expressive Activity Permit‬.  
‪3) Show up with your permit and play! 

For participating musicians, BART requires that they not affix any signs on the walls, do not use amplified music, and only perform in non-paid areas of the stations. Bach in the Subways requires that participating musicians not solicit tips or accept any money as it is meant to be a shared gift of musical joy. Read more about requirements and guidelines here. 

For general questions about Bach in the Subways, email [email protected]. For questions related to BART, email [email protected]. 

Download the promotional flyer here.

About Bach in the Subways

Bach in the Subways was started organically in 2010 by New York City-based musician Dale Henderson and has grown into an international event that invites musicians to play Bach in public spaces. Musicians have played in more than 150 cities across 40 countries. Watch a short video of some of last year's performances here. 

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the BART Police Department will be hosting its annual Trunk or Treat Halloween event at the Fruitvale BART Station between 4-7 p.m.

The event will be held at the Fruitvale BART Parking Structure Level 1. 

Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes, but costumes are not mandatory. Kids will get to collect candy and non-candy treats, play games and win prizes. 

The event is open to children under the age of 12 and entrance is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

View the PDF flyer.