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BART ridership continued its steady upward trend in November, with double digit growth at most stations and overall ridership increasing 11.6% compared to the previous year.  

In total, riders took more than 4.4 million trips in November, many taking advantage of new fare programs and innovations, such as Tap and Ride and Clipper BayPass.  

‘Tis the season to take BART to the airport. Ridership to SFO and OAK around Thanksgiving grew 12% over last year. 

Riders are also increasingly using BART on the weekends. In November, Saturday ridership increased by 19% and Sunday ridership by 16% over last year. These gains come as ridership dipped modestly from October, a pattern consistent with seasonal shifts and variations in weekday and weekend travel.  

Ridership growth reflects changing commuter trends, increased use of weekend and off-peak service, growing adoption of new fare programs, and an improved customer experience at BART. And on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission released Next Generation Clipper, a new-and-improved fare payment system that makes paying for BART and other Clipper agencies faster and more convenient.  

Many stations experienced robust increases in average weekday exits compared with last year this November. Some examples: 

• Downtown Berkeley saw ridership rise nearly 20%
• 19th St/Oakland and 12th St/Oakland City Center ridership increased by more than 20%
• West Oakland and Embarcadero also posted notable gains of 24% and 17% respectively 

Riders also continue to embrace flexible and discounted fare options: 

• 11% of total trips in November used Tap and Ride, which lets you pay adult fares directly at the fare gates with a contactless debit or credit card or Apple Pay and Google Pay. BART became the first Tap and Ride agency in August; MTC rolled out the program to other Clipper agencies on December 10 with the launch of Next Generation Clipper. 
• Clipper BayPass usage jumped 173% compared to the same month last year.
• Discount programs such as Clipper START also saw gains. Usage of the discount fare program increased by 37% compared to a year ago. 

BART’s budget crisis 

Despite encouraging ridership gains, BART continues to face a $375 million budget deficit. To close that gap solely with fare revenue, current ridership would need to more than double. BART’s most recent budget forecast projects a 4% ridership increase in 2026.  

BART’s gradual recovery is closely tied to work-from-home trends in the region. While more riders are returning to the system, they are generally taking fewer trips due to remote and hybrid work schedules.  

Additional ridership information is publicly available and posted monthly at bart.gov/about/reports/ridership.   

Sound Tracks, BART’s free summer concert series, returns for three shows in August and September.  The outdoor series, presented by the BART Art Program, is part of BART’s rider engagement strategy to activate stations, show appreciation for riders and neighbors, and support local artists – all for the love of music. 

Performances will be held in the unpaid areas of stations, and attendees are encouraged to take BART. Dance bands have been so successful at past events that for this series, we’re bringing out musicians that know how to get a crowd on their feet. 

Said Jennifer Easton, BART Art Program Manager: “The BART Art Program centers supporting local artists and delivering arts and cultural programming to enhance rider and community experience. Sound Tracks encourages riders to take a minute to celebrate with station neighbors, support local businesses, and enables BART to show our appreciation for all the people who ride the system and to those that make the station areas vibrant.”  

Up next on the schedule:

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Wednesday, Sept. 4, 5 pm to 630pm, Balboa Park: Kiazi Malonga (Congolese drummer performing with full percussion band) 

Previously:

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Wednesday, August 21, 5pm to 630pm, El Cerrito del Norte Station: Patron Latin Rhythms (Latin jazz, Latin rock, Mambo). Special reading by winners of the BART Lines Teen Poetry Contest.  

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Wednesday, Aug. 28, 5pm to 630pm, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre: Chris Trinidad y Con Todo featuring Mestiza (Cuban Timba, Puerto Rican Bomba, and Afro-Caribbean genres mixed with Latin jazz, soul, and R&B)  

It's the most BARTable time of the year! 

Celebrate our third year of the immensely popular BART holiday sweater at SweaterFest '23! Wear your BART holiday sweater from any year and join BART staff and fellow riders for a group photo at Rockridge Station on Sunday, December 10 from 2-3:30pm.

For riders who did not pre-order the 2023 BART holiday staff but would like to purchase one, staff will be selling the 2023 holiday sweater at SweaterFest '23. We will have contests, prizes, other BART merch for sale, music, and more to make it a true holiday event! Winners of our SweaterFest '23 Raffle can win exclusive BART prizes. (Raffle contestants must be present to win prizes)

Extra 2023 BART holiday sweaters will go on sale at railgoods.com after Thanksgiving. 

For pre-orders who selected the pick-up option, your holiday sweater is available for pick-up at BART HQ, 2150 Webster Street in Oakland (walkable distance from 19th St Oakland Station) on weekdays from November 22 until December 7. The hours for pick-up are between 8:30am until 4pm. November 23 and November 24 will not be open due to Thanksgiving. 

Starting December 11, pre-order pick-ups will be moved to the Customer Services Center at Lake Merritt Station on the concourse level.

Don’t be left out in the cold…grab your sweater and join us for a family-friendly, holiday-celebrating SweaterFest ’23!

We plan to introduce our new stamp rally passport at SweaterFest. If you attend the Meet the Anime Mascots event at Powell Street, be sure to bring your stamp from that event and we will add it to our passport.

At its national conference the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) reaffirmed the BART Police Department continues to meet the standard of the group’s Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation. BART PD – which is in the process of filling 29 sworn officer vacancies this fiscal year - was already among the fewer than 6% of law enforcement agencies across the country that has earned accreditation from CALEA. This advanced accreditation places BART PD in an even smaller pool of departments and acknowledges the department’s commitment to following industry best practices, building community trust, and engaging in more than decade long commitment to reform.

“BART PD is working around the clock to ensure every rider feels safe from the moment they step into a station to the moment they arrive at their destination,” said interim BART PD Chief Kevin Franklin. “Our accreditation from CALEA wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of everyone in the department. Certification from CALEA is the gold standard for law enforcement. It shows the confidence of outside experts in the work being done by our department to continue improving, while ensuring we are keeping BART riders and workers safe across the Bay Area.”

BART PD first earned CALEA accreditation in 2019 and had to demonstrate at the conference the department has been meeting or exceeding CALEA’s standards. “We recognize that accreditation is a process, not a destination,” continued Franklin. “We are committed to continuing with the hard work to measure up to CALEA’s high standards as well as the demands of our riders who expect us to do everything we can to keep them safe every time they ride.”

BART PD earned its original CALEA accreditation as part of its more than decade long commitment to police reforms. The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) recommended in its final report issued in 2010 that BPD seek this accreditation. NOBLE conducted a top-to-bottom review of BPD after the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant in 2009.

BART PD must prove compliance with nearly 400 standards annually as part of the Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The comprehensive process included an on-site review by CALEA which focused on facility inspections, staff interviews, and gathering public input.

Feb 26, 2026 Update

On Thursday, Feb. 26, the BART Board of Directors adopted an Alternative Service Plan outlining specific budget balancing details to solve a $376M deficit for the next fiscal year if no new funds become available to BART. BART is facing a structural deficit of $350M to $400M because ridership is still down 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels and BART’s current funding model relies heavily on passenger fares. Get more details here.

Feb 17, 2026 Update

In response to feedback from some board members at the February 12 Board Workshop, staff will amend the budget balancing proposal for the scenario a November ballot measure fails and no new revenue becomes available to BART. The change includes moving the BART station closures from occurring during the second half of FY27 (January 2027) to instead take place in FY28 (July 2027 through June 2028). BART will use reserve funds to push the station closures six months. The other cuts, cost savings, fare increases, and layoffs outlined in the original proposal remain the same. The Alternative Service Plan the board will be asked to adopt as soon as February 26, will also make clear the Board will ultimately decide which stations to close, not staff.      

Below is a summary of the latest version of the Alternative Service Plan. It will be included on the February 26 agenda as "for information and possible action."

Alternative Service Plan (Second-half of FY27: January 2027 through June 2027)

 January 2027 - Immediate Cost Reduction:

• 3-line service, two trains per hour on each line, 9 PM close  (Reduce train hours by an estimated 63%)
• Increase fares and parking fees 30% (minimum full adult fare: $3.35, estimated average fare $6.38)
• Target approximately $30M of savings over 6 months from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions
• Continue deferrals of Priority Capital allocations and retiree medical contributions
• Balance remainder of FY27 with one-time resources and financial deferrals
• Assess ridership and revenue impacts and the performance of all District functions to determine if further reductions can be safely and legally implemented
• Continue public discussions with the BART Board and public regarding potential station closures and impacts (prep work for FY 28)

FY28 (July 2027 through June 2028) - Budget Balancing (if feasible):

• Target over $175M in annual cost reductions through a cumulative 70% reduction in service hours:
  • Maintain 3-line service, two trains per hour on each line, 9 PM close
  • Close up to 15 stations and/or up to 25% of system track miles
• The BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station or line (segment) closures
• Increase fares and parking fees up to a cumulative 50% (min adult fare: $3.85, estimated average fare $7.26)
• Target annual operating expense savings of more than a cumulative $130M from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions
• Continue to defer retiree health contributions; defer most remaining capital allocations

Contingency (if required):

• If determined BART can’t safely or legally operate with available resources, stop passenger service
• Use existing District tax revenues to secure system assets
• Work to determine system’s future

This plan includes approximately 1,200 employee layoffs. 

View the Board Presentation.

Feb 12, 2026 Workshop Update

Today the BART Board of Directors held their annual board workshop where they primarily discussed staff's recommended "Alternative Service Framework" if a November 2026 ballot measure fails and no other operating revenue source is identified. No action was taken, but staff heard feedback from board members about the framework and the proposed phases of service cuts, station closures, layoffs, fare increases, and other deficit reducing solutions. BART staff made it clear it is a policy decision of the Board to ultimately decide which stations to close. The proposed framework and resolution the board will be asked to adopt does not name which 10-15 stations would close, though staff provided recommendations based on the 10 lowest ridership stations and five others stations that would reduce the size of the BART network (view the presentation for details on staff's proposal).

The board discussed potential modifications to the framework they will be asked to vote on as soon as February 26, such as increasing the proposed Phase I fare increase from 30% to 50% while moving all station closures to Phase 2 (July 2027 instead of 10 stations in January 2027, and 5 more in July 2027).

The board asked staff to do additional budget outreach with stakeholders and to conduct more analysis. This discussion will continue at the next board meeting on February 26 with potential action on the Proposed Alternative Service Framework. Though some board members said they may not be prepared to vote until the March 12 meeting. 

You can read the full workshop presentation here.

At the annual BART Board Workshop on Thursday, February 12, BART staff will present Directors with detailed plans for an alternative service framework if a November 2026 ballot measure fails and no other operating revenue source is identified. You can read the full presentation here.

During the workshop, staff will outline the risks and tradeoffs for service and non-service reductions. Because rail has high fixed costs and low marginal savings, it is impossible to close the projected FY27 $376M deficit with service cuts and fare increases alone. 

BART staff evaluated multiple aspects of service including routes, stations, headways, peak, evening, and weekend service and hours of operation. The proposed framework outlines, for the very first time, specific details including which stations would need to be closed due to a lack of operating funds and the recommended phased approach to triggering further cuts. The plan retains as many riders as possible, while still cutting service to realize savings. System support services would need to be reduced by 40% as cost savings from cutting service would be largely offset by the resulting lost fare revenue. 

There will not be a Board vote at the workshop on February 12. After receiving feedback from Directors at the workshop, staff plans to return to the Board on Thursday, February 26, with a resolution to adopt a finalized alternative service framework that would be implemented if new funding is not secured. 

You can participate in the workshop. You may join in person (2150 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612) or via Zoom videoconferencing (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89025424156).

Written comments may be addressed to the BART Board in advance via email to [email protected], using “public comment” as the subject line, before 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11th.