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Amid heightened fears of violence and profiling stemming from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, BART and BART Police are reaffirming our commitment to stand together with the people of the Bay Area in opposing hate, violence, and acts of intolerance.  

We recognize many families in the Bay Area are grieving and worried about profiling and incidents of hate in public spaces. These thoughts may create barriers to mobility due to fear. No person should feel uncomfortable riding BART, and we are committed to fostering a community of care where people have safe passageways. BART is working to ensure that it remains a safe place for all people, regardless of ethnic or national origin, gender identity, race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or immigration status.

If someone feels unsafe on BART, they should: 

• Move to another car away from what is making them feel unsafe. 
• Once in a different car, notify the train operator using the call box on each car or use the BART Watch app or text BART Police at 510-200-0992. 
• All station platforms have call boxes or white phones that connect with an employee at all hours of the day. 
• Wait in a safe place such as by the station agent booth if you are getting picked up at the station. 
• Practice safe bystander intervention if you witness harassment. 

Safe Bystander Intervention 

The bystander intervention approach is about centering the impacted person, their feelings, their experience, and their needs, while ignoring the attacker to prevent escalating the incident. 

There are four steps for safe bystander intervention.  

Step One: Assess the situation. 

• Does the harasser have a weapon? 
• If yes, call BART police at 510-464-7000  
• If no, continue with the intervention.  

Step Two: Ask another bystander to support you. Use phrases such as:

• Can you help me intervene by discreetly taking a picture/video of the situation? 
• Can you help me intervene by contacting the BART train operator using the train car intercom? 
• Can you help me intervene by noting the BART car number located above the end car doors? We will need it if we report this situation. 
• Can you help me intervene by keeping an eye out to make sure things do not escalate? 

Step Three: Approach the targeted person. Ignore the attacker. 

• Make sure the targeted person knows you are here to help.  
• You can say something like: “My name is Stephanie, I am here to help you.” 
• Ask for permission: “Can I sit/stand next to you?” 
• Ignore the attacker and engage in a conversation with the targeted person: “The weather has been nice lately,” or “Did you see the Warriors game?” 

Step Four: Offer options to the targeted person for how you can support them. 

• It helps to offer 2-3 options because in traumatic situations, people may panic and be unsure of what to do. 
• Use phrases such as:
  • Do you want me to walk you to your destination? 
  • Do you want to get off at the next station and wait for the next train with you? 
  • Do you want to move to another BART car with me? 
  • Do you want to report this to BART Police? If so, do you want me to be a witness in the report? 
• Respect the person’s wishes if they say no and they are okay. Give space if that is what is asked. 

BART closed Fiscal Year 2026 on a historic note, with June ridership shattering multiple post-pandemic records driven by FIFA World Cup fever and a record-breaking San Francisco Pride weekend, among other big-ticket events around the region.  

June ridership was 18.6% higher than June 2025. The gains reflect BART's growing role beyond the traditional commute, supporting travel to cultural celebrations, major sporting events, and entertainment throughout the region. 

June's records capped a landmark fiscal year for post-pandemic ridership at BART. With 59.5 million exits, FY26 ridership was 13% above the previous year. The gains build on a steady recovery that has accelerated with each major milestone: March broke the post-pandemic single-day ridership record with 227,300 exits on Giants Opening Day and marked the first month average weekday ridership exceeded 200,000 trips since the pandemic. June then surpassed that average weekday benchmark, reaching nearly 210,000 exits, as well as the highest post-pandemic ridership day (236,785 exits). 

June set post-pandemic records across the board 

• Highest single ridership day: Tuesday, June 9, with 236,785 trips 
• The top five highest ridership days since the pandemic all occurred in June 
• Highest average weekday ridership: 209,963 exits 
• Highest Saturday ridership: 158,944 (SF Pride weekend) 
• Highest Sunday ridership: 171,342 exits (SF Pride Parade) 

FIFA World Cup drives historic ridership at key stations 

The FIFA World Cup 2026, which brought matches to the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s) in Santa Clara, generated a significant ridership surge at Milpitas Station, which connects riders to VTA light rail for direct service to the stadium. The station saw a 50% increase in monthly ridership compared to June 2025. On match days, the station consistently saw more than 130% ridership increases. SFO Station, a gateway for international visitors and summer travelers, recorded a 30% ridership increase. 

The numbers reinforce that when people come to the Bay Area for world-class events, BART is how they get around. 

Pride weekend sets new Saturday and Sunday records

The San Francisco Pride Parade delivered BART's highest Saturday and Sunday ridership since the pandemic. Saturday saw 158,944 exits, while Sunday clocked 171,342 exits, roughly 30,000 more trips than Pride Sunday a year ago – a 24% increase.  

Ridership growth alone cannot close the funding gap 

Despite record post-pandemic ridership, fare revenue still falls short of what is needed to sustain BART operations.  Even with continued growth, ridership alone is not enough to close the funding gap, and a new funding source is needed.   

BART faces a structural deficit of $350M to $400M, driven by long-term shifts in commute patterns, including remote and hybrid work. BART balanced the FY26 budget with $35M in ongoing cuts and cost controls. The FY27 deficit is $376M. BART is taking a number of actions to reduce the shortfall, including more expense reductions, but will need help to completely close the gap. More on BART’s fiscal cliff: bart.gov/fiscalcliff. 

Find additional Monthly Ridership Snapshots here and daily ridership totals here.   

Friday, Aug. 15 – Riders continue to return to BART. On Saturday, Aug. 18, nearly 150,000 people rode our trains, and the following day, more than 98,000 of you hopped aboard.  

Big things are brewing around BART, and we’re not just talking about the special late-night service we’re running when Beyoncé comes to town next week (more on that below).  

In addition to recently doubling our police and safety presence on trains and doubling our train deep cleans, we’re excited to announce our fleet will be entirely composed of new trains starting Monday, Sept. 11. (You may spot a legacy train on occasion for events and contingencies.) 

September 11 is an auspicious date for BART – it's our 51st anniversary! Though we're adding another notch to our years in service, we’re as forward-looking as ever.  

On September 11, we’ll be releasing a reimagined schedule that will substantially improve the rider experience. The schedule is designed to work for everyone, every day, whether you’re taking BART to work, to the game, or for a night out with Beyoncé. 

That same day, we’ll begin sizing trains for safety and efficiency by shortening their lengths. Sizing trains in this fashion means increased safety and cleanliness for riders, as well as a maximization of BART’s scarce resources. Read more about it here.  

September 11 is a few weeks off so, first things first, let’s talk about what’s happening around the Bay this weekend... 

For a more in-depth listing of local events, visit the BARTable website. We publish a weekly event roundup, BARTable This Weekend, that highlights happenings around the region as well as cool contests and sweepstakes from our partners.   

Wednesday, Aug. 30: The Beyoncé Renaissance Tour at Levi’s Stadium  

Beyoncé’s in the Bay next Wednesday, and we'll be running extra trains and offering special limited service after midnight for the show. We’ll also have extra station staff and security to help riders get around.  

Getting to Levi’s Stadium on transit is easy. Riders should transfer from BART at Milpitas Station to VTA’s Orange Line and ride to VTA’s Great America Station, located on the north side of Levi’s Stadium.  

Earlier this week, Beyoncé announced that for her birthday, she wants her fans to wear silver to the show to “surround ourselves in a shimmering human disco ball.” We at BART are expecting our riders to be shinier than ever, as Queen B implores.  

Find more detailed information on taking transit to the concert here.  

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 25-Aug. 27: Braves v. Giants at Oracle Park  

The San Francisco Giants return to Oracle Park for a trio of games facing the Atlanta Braves: Friday, Aug. 25 at 7:15pm; Saturday, Aug. 26 at 1:05pm; and Sunday, Aug. 27 at 4:10pm. It’s a big series so your best bet for getting to Oracle Park is BART, as always.  

Use our guide for taking transit to the game here.  

TRACK CLOSURE ADVISORY: If you are traveling from Berryessa/North San Jose Station on the Green Line to San Francisco, be advised of the track closure this weekend for hazardous tree removal and track work between Union City and Fremont stations. The closure will require riders to take a bus bridge between the two stations before continuing to San Francisco.  

To avoid the bus bridge, riders can start their trip at Union City Station (or any station north of Union City). Parking is available at many stations if you plan to drive around the bus bridge; reference this page for more information. 

SINGLE TRACKING ALERT: On Sunday, Aug. 27, be advised of single tracking between Balboa Park and Daly City stations. BART staff will be cutting back and removing trees that could pose a hazard to the trackway between these stations. Single tracking means service will be reduced from two tracks to one track, and riders in the area should anticipate delays of 10 to 15 minutes. Additionally, all Green Line trains will be cancelled.  

Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 26-Aug. 27: Oakland Chinatown Streetfest  

The Oakland Chinatown Streetfest returns for its 34th year on Saturday and Sunday. The free festival runs from 10am to 5pm and highlights the historic neighborhood’s traditions, culture, and local businesses.  

You can expect performances on two stages, art, food, beverages, and BART! BART staff and safety personnel from BART Police will be tabling at the event with free swag and lots of information. Stop by and say hello.  

The festival takes place around 9th and Franklin streets in Chinatown. Take BART to 12th St Oakland Station then walk about three minutes to the festivities.  

Explore the Best Attractions near BART Stations 

The Bay Area is home to an incredible array of attractions, whether you’re looking to get up close and personal with wildlife or let your imagination run wild with LEGOs. Learn about some of our favorite spots for family fun on BARTable.  

Sweepstakes Spotlight: Win Hieroglyphics Swag Ahead of Hiero Day 

Hiero Day comes to Oakland on Monday, Sept. 4, and if you’re still looking for a ‘fit, you may want to enter our sweepstakes for a Hieroglyphics Hip Hop Crew Collection swag package. Entries close Monday, Aug. 28, so enter ASAP on BARTable.  

Weekend Read: How We Scrub our Trains from Top to Bottom  

BART recently doubled the number of times our train cars get deep cleaned – you could say our trains are now twice as clean! For these “thorough cleans,” as they’re known around BART, two cleaners spend two hours scrubbing a car from the ceiling to the baseboards.  

Read all about the thorough clean process on bart.gov.  

Happy Riding this Weekend! 

We hope you enjoy your weekend adventures aboard our trains.    
 
Stay in touch by signing up for the BARTable This Week newsletter on the BARTable website – your one-stop shop for all things accessible by BART. You can also keep up with BARTable on Facebook and  Instagram. 

Train car cleaner Alyssa Barnes seen from the bottom of a sudsy bucket. 

This past Saturday, April 20, BART fans caught a final ride on the trains all of us will soon miss. Thousands of people, many wearing their favorite BART outfits, including those they made themselves, came to MacArthur Station to bid adieu to the historic legacy fleet and take their last ride on the 51.5-year-old trains. The event included a celebration in the station plaza, a retirement ceremony, and a final journey aboard three legacy trains brought from the yard just for the day. Some people traveled from outside the state just to attend the event. 

“I’m coming out here to pay my respects to an old friend that I’ve been missing these last few weeks," said one rail fan who arrived over an hour early to the event. “It’s going to be sad to see it go, but it’s nice to know I’ll be here for its final moments.” 

In the plaza, throngs of BART fans enjoyed food trucks and activities, including a stamp rally, as well as a raffle for legacy car number plates. There was also a Railgoods popup shop so folks could top off their collections of BART merch and purchase the latest product offerings, including a shirt made specifically for the day. 

The party in the plaza was followed by a ceremony opened by BART Board President Bevan Dufty and including remarks by General Manager Bob Powers, FTA Region 9 Regional Administrator Ray Tellis, and BART Chief of Police Kevin Franklin. There were also representatives from groups who will receive legacy cars after successfully submitting proposals to repurpose the vehicles, including the Western Railway Museum, which is establishing a Rapid Transit History Center that will include three legacy BART cars; the Sierra Train House, a forthcoming residence and short-term rental in the Sierra Foothills constructed from a BART car; and the Original Scraper Bike Team, who will use a car for a bike shop, providing free repairs and bike repair lessons to local youth, as well as a clubhouse for community events and the organization's mentorship program.  

At the end of the ceremony, it was time for the last hurrah aboard the legacy trains. Incredibly, the line to get on a train was so long it reached MacArthur Boulevard. Despite the line, everyone was able to get onboard a train. 

The trip ran from MacArthur to Fremont Station – the reverse of BART’s inaugural run in 1972. Some of the cars in service for that momentous day were hauling passengers for this last ride, more than fifty years after their wheels first touched rail. 

After the trains reached Fremont, they rode off into the sunset and came to rest at BART’s Hayward Yard. A crowd on the station platform at Fremont, their cameras rolling, was there to see them off. 

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BART Director Bevan Dufty said he was “extremely hopeful” about the upcoming year following a vote today that elected him president of the BART Board. Dufty said he will work hard to support and collaborate with the BART team to solve problems and to anticipate the challenges ahead.

“I am so proud of the work this agency does to support the Bay Area community,” President Dufty said. “I look forward to working hand in hand with the rest of the Board in 2024.”   

President Dufty was first elected to the BART Board of Directors in November 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He represents District 9, which includes portions of San Francisco. Dufty served as president in 2019.

Director Mark Foley, who was elected vice president, said 2024 will be an exciting, but challenging year. 

“There are a lot of great things happening at the agency we should celebrate,” Vice President Foley said. “People in the Bay Area love BART and what we do. We mean so much to people and provide a crucial lifeline for people traveling to school, to doctors’ appointments, and to work.” 

Vice President Foley was first elected to the BART Board in November 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Vice President Foley represents District 2, which includes Antioch, Brentwood, Concord (partial), and other cities and unincorporated communities in Contra Costa County. 

Vice President Foley served as board president in 2021 and vice president in 2020 and 2022. 

Watch Janice Li’s outgoing remarks as Board President, during which she highlights BART’s top accomplishments of 2023.

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It’s a jazzy no-traffic jam! 

Purchase advance tickets on Railgoods.com or on the day of the event. 

This October, BART Sound Tracks returns with a one-day music festival featuring some of the Bay Area’s outstanding jazz and R&B talents.  

Sound Tracks Jazz Festival, presented in partnership with SFJAZZ, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 3pm to 6pm, in the North Berkeley Station parking lot. In addition to three unique acts – SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, B DeVeaux, and Sun Hop Fat – there will be food trucks, mocktails, and BART merch for sale.  

Now in its fourth year, BART has hosted Sound Tracks at stations as part of its event and rider engagement program, which celebrates transit, activates stations, uplifts local arts and culture, and demonstrates appreciation for our communities. 

Purchase advance tickets or at the event on Railgoods.com. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn/camping chairs, picnics, awesome hats and/or low umbrellas (consider your fellow eventgoers) and your dancing shoes. Consuming alcohol, smoking/vaping, and pets (service animals excepted) are not permitted at the event. There will be parking for motor vehicles and bicycles. 

“It is thrilling to evolve Sound Tracks to a multi-artist event in partnership with longtime BARTable partner SFJAZZ,” said BART Art Program Manager Jennifer Easton. Arts and culture surround the BART system and creating an event that celebrates emerging and established local artists is a perfect opportunity to honor that and bring our community together for a great afternoon of music, dancing, and having fun.” 

“SFJAZZ is very happy to extend our collaboration with BART and to curate the BART Sound Tracks Jazz Festival at North Berkeley BART station as part of our 'SFJAZZ presents’ activities across the Bay Area and beyond,” said SFJAZZ Director of Artistic Programming Burkhard Hopper. “SFJAZZ is all about bringing the best of jazz, legends, and newcomers alike to the Bay Area. We encourage our audience to use public transportations to come to this festival and our venue in Hayes Valley.” 

Following the hugely successful Let’s Glow! Anime Festival in September and Under the Stars movie night in August, Sound Tracks will be another great opportunity to discover all the people, places and events accessible by BART as we land in Berkeley – a city known for its dynamic musicians and performance venues. BART and partner SFJAZZ, the largest nonprofit jazz presenter in the world, are bringing the focus on youth and the diversity of Bay Area music sounds that celebrate traditions and highlight innovators. 

What: Sound Tracks Music Festival, presented by BART and SFJAZZ 

When: Saturday, October 11, 3pm to 6pm 

Where: North Berkeley BART Station parking lot, 1750 Sacramento Street, Berkeley, CA 94702 

Tickets: $5 youth includes 1 youth drink (under 18), $10 adult includes 1 mocktail (18+), $24 family (2 adult + 2 youth). Youth under 5 are free. Tickets available for purchase at the event and on Railgoods.com now. 

About the performers 

The SFJAZZ High School All-Stars is a pre-professional training program for advanced musicians from the greater Bay Area. These young artists display a technical brilliance and musical maturity rarely seen in the youth ensemble arena. Each year the students perform, record, travel and participate in national festivals and competitions, and receive training and mentorship from leading jazz artists. 

B DeVeaux is a 25-year-old Neo-Soul vocalist and songwriter, who has performed both as a solo artist and in other projects all over the Bay Area and beyond, including Yerba Buena Gardens, The Breakroom at San Jose Jazz, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the Mountain Winery, the Kennedy Center and most recently Outsidelands. They will make their SFJAZZ debut this season. Hailing from Oakland, CA, DeVeaux has been singing since the age of 3. They have just released their first album, CHRYSALIS.  

Sun Hop Fat has been at the forefront of world music in the Bay Area. Their music blends the rhythms of traditional American funk and jazz with harmonies and melodies from East and West Africa. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Fèla Kuti, Mulatu Astake, and James Brown, and well steeped in the swampy sounds of New Orleans, their sounds include original compositions. This all-star band includes standout musicians from other popular San Francisco Bay Area groups including Afromassive, Harry and the Hitmen, and Smoked Out Soul.  

Whether sit down jazz crowds or igniting the get-up-and-dance vibe, Sun Hop Fat’s wide appeal garners support from diverse audiences.  

“…a steady wall of extraordinary moving sounds and beats” – San Francisco Examiner.