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Congressmember Mark DeSaulnier, so often at the forefront of transportation improvements in Contra Costa County, helped commemorate the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at all 12 BART stations in Contra Costa County with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station on May 29, 2025. The event marked a major milestone in BART’s systemwide plan aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility, and the overall rider experience. 

The Next Generation Fare Gates feature cutting-edge security and user-centered design elements, including enhanced reliability, better accessibility, and reduced fare evasion. With transparent barriers and faster processing technology, the new gates offer a seamless experience for all passengers, including those with mobility devices, strollers, and luggage. 

Congressmember DeSaulnier, who provided leadership for the BART to Antioch extension during his time in the state legislature, noted the importance of investing in the future of BART in Contra Costa County.  

"We know that these fare gates will make a tremendous impact for farebox recovery, safety, and the overall experience," Congressmember DeSaulnier said. "This is a significant project for the region, and I'm grateful to be a part of it."

This milestone was made possible thanks to critical funding contributions from partners such as the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), led by Executive Director Tim Haile. CCTA’s support underscored a strong regional commitment to modern, integrated transit solutions. 

BART Board President Mark Foley and Director Matt Rinn, who represents Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of updating aging infrastructure and restoring rider confidence. 

“I am thankful for the opportunity to showcase these fare gates, which are just one example of our new approach to safety and security on BART,” Rinn said. “Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station is a big part of the community, and I appreciate the opportunity to showcase the station and what it’s all about.” 

Metropolitan Transportation Commission chairperson Sue Noack, who is also the mayor of Pleasant Hill, noted the role of Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station in connecting the surrounding community to the region, providing convenient and easy access to places of employment, recreation, and services. New fare gates across the system are increasing paid ridership and improving customer safety. 

In his remarks, President and CEO of the East Bay Leadership Council Mark Orcutt stressed the importance of transportation to the region's economic well-being.

“The rollout of the Next Generation Fare Gates behind me represents something more than safety upgrades; it’s a strategic investment in regional economic competitiveness,” said Orcutt. “Transit moves people, and people move the economy. This is a visible step towards a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming experience for riders.”

As a BART rider, CCTA Commissioner and Contra Costa Supervisor Ken Carlson said he is "thrilled to have these new gates." 

“CCTA is committed not only to our local transportation system, but the regional system at large, and I applaud BART and the efforts they’ve made to build trust in the community and to make the system more efficient and secure," he said.

With the successful completion of the Contra Costa County installations, BART reaffirmed its commitment to completing fare gate upgrades at all 50 stations in the system by December 31, 2025. 

The installation of the new fare gates at Contra Costa County stations would not have been possible without the support of BART’s funding partners: 

The California Strategic Growth Council / California Housing and Community Development (HCD) 

Caltrans / California Transportation Commission

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority  

The Federal Transit Administration 

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission 

On Thursday, Dec. 7, BART launched a Digital Holiday Passport to encourage riding BART to explore the region and access holiday fun and adventures. Participants can win big prizes, including a $250 Clipper card and a 2023 Ugly Holiday Sweater and Holiday Beanie.  

BART created the Digital Holiday Passport in partnership with Vibemap, a city discovery app that uses “vibes” to connect users to places, events, and experiences. Vibemap will join BART at SweaterFest ‘23 on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2pm to 3pm, at Rockridge Station, to promote the challenge and answer questions. Members of the public who attend SweaterFest ‘23 will also be the first to receive the brand-new BART Stamp Passports for the BART Stamp Rally.  

The Digital Holiday Passport challenge will run from Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, to Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Seven stations will serve as check-in locations: 

• Downtown Berkeley  
• Fruitvale  
• Montgomery 
• MacArthur  
• Lake Merritt  
• West Dublin/Pleasanton  
• Walnut Creek 

To participate, download Vibemap on the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store. After downloading, travel within 0.5 miles of one of the seven stations listed above, and you’ll receive a notification to unlock the Digital Holiday Passport. The passport is geofenced so you can’t participate unless you’re physically in the area.   

Participants will earn “Challenge Points” for every nearby activity they do – from checking-in at stations and places around BART, to adding “vibes” and tips to the app. The more points you have, the higher your chances of winning prizes, such as: 

• $250 Clipper card 
• 2023 Ugly Holiday Sweater (Size Large), Holiday Beanie 
• $50 Clipper card
• $11 Clipper cards + BART swag bag 

After the challenge concludes, Vibemap will host an IRL event for participants to meet and mingle. Date and location TBD. At the event, you can get a special holiday stamp as part of the BART Stamp Rally.  

To learn more about the Digital BART Holiday Passport visit bartable.bart.gov/vibemap.  

(1/16/25 update)

The track shutdown and bus bridge that had been planned between Walnut Creek and Concord for Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 has been postponed. Instead, BART will offer our regular weekend service on both days.

BART will provide Saturday service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20. Saturday service means BART will open at 6am and close at midnight and there is less frequency on the Yellow Line (service is every 20 minutes).

BART must replace decades old track components between Walnut Creek and Concord stations to ensure reliable service. To allow for the work to happen in the most efficient way possible as well as to provide safe conditions for workers, there will be no train service between Walnut Creek and Concord on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19. Instead, riders will get off their train and take a free bus to move between Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre, and Concord stations. Riders can expect delays of 20 to 30 minutes in the work area on both Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19. Work is not planned for Monday, January 20. 

BART will provide Saturday service for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20. Saturday service means BART will open at 6am and close at midnight and there is less frequency on the Yellow Line (service is every 20 minutes).

The project will also require the cancellation of some early morning and late night trains.

Saturday Morning:

• The first southbound trains departing Concord at 5:37am and 5:57am will be cancelled.
• Instead, the first southbound trains going to San Francisco will depart Walnut Creek at 5:45am, 6:05am, and 6:25am.
• To accommodate southbound passengers, buses will depart Concord at 5:23am, 5:43am, and 6:03am and Pleasant Hill at 5:30am, 5:50am, and 6:10am to connect with these trains.

Saturday and Sunday Night:

• The last southbound train departing Antioch at 11:58pm and Pittsburg/Bay Point at 12:12am will be cancelled.
• Riders must take the earlier southbound train, which departs Antioch at 11:32pm and Pittsburg/Bay Point at 11:46pm.

Sunday Morning:

• The first southbound trains departing Concord at 7:37am and 7:57am will be cancelled.
• Instead, the first southbound trains going to San Francisco will depart Walnut Creek Station at 7:45am, 8:05am, and 8:25am.
• Buses will depart Concord at 7:23am, 7:43am, and 8:03am and Pleasant Hill at 7:30 AM, 7:50m, and 8:10am to connect with these trains.

This upcoming work is part of BART’s overall effort to improve safety and reliability of the 131-mile, 50 station system. There are now more rebuilding projects happening across BART than at any point in its more than 50-year history. You can learn more about the progress of this work by reading the 2024 Measure RR Annual Report published by the independent Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee.

You can keep up with the latest updates for trackway repair projects that impact service by going to our Alerts and Advisories page. BART’s Trip Planner has been improved to show the full rider journey including bus bridges. You can also check Real Time Departures for your station of choice.

(This article was first published 12/6/24)

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the BART Police Department hosted its 11th annual awards ceremony to honor the officers, civilians, and good Samaritans who went above and beyond to serve their community over the past year. View photos of the honorees in attendance in the above slideshow.  

There was a heavy heaping of holiday cheer in the air as department members gathered with their families in a festive room, decorated with balloons and trees trimmed in BART’s blue and white colors. The jovial master of ceremonies, Lieutenant Jesse Sekhon, came dressed in a new BART holiday sweater, embellished with holiday-themed BART Police patches. 

Chief of Police Kevin Franklin opened the ceremony by welcoming attendees, including recently retired BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez, to the standing-room-only gathering and recognizing department members who were working shifts during the celebration. Franklin began his remarks by defining some of the many changes the department saw in 2023, including a redeployment strategy that has more than doubled the presence of sworn officers on trains. 

Franklin also cited the department’s immense recruitment efforts to fill officer vacancies. In June, the BART Board of Directors approved an agreement that increases police officer salaries to put the department’s pay on par with other Bay Area law enforcement agencies.  

“Hiring is nonstop right now,” Franklin said.  

Following Franklin’s remarks, the presentation of colors, and the chaplain’s invocation, Sekhon – the lights of his holiday sweater blinking – took to the mic to begin the awards ceremony. All honorees were nominated for their awards by their colleagues. 

The first honoree was Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) Amnesty Afholderbach, who was recognized with the Community Service Award for her “vigilance, awareness, and quick response,” which has resulted in numerous apprehensions and many lives being saved throughout the system. Her peers and supervisor said she represents the ethos and philosophy of community-oriented policing “to the fullest.” 

The second Community Service Award recognized CIS Natalie Robinson, CIS Ciaundria Allen, and CIS Leslye Chavez for their efforts to offer services to a specific group of individuals who often visited Castro Valley Station. One of the individuals, Harley, is the son of a BART employee.  

On Sept. 25, 2023, Harley walked into the station in search of CIS Robinson. He said he was ready to get help for his drug addiction, which had led to him living on the street. CISes Robinson, Allen, and Chavez coordinated with Harley’s parents, BART foreworker Bryan Snyder and Melissa Snyder, to coordinate paperwork and insurance information and help to arrange travel to the treatment program. The CISes saw him off at the train station. They even packed him food for the journey.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Bryan Snyder announced that his son has been sober for 80 days. Attendees clapped and cheered at the news, with many wiping tears.  

“We are so lucky to have crossed paths with them. They saved our son,” Melissa Snyder said of the CIS team.  

Robinson said the Snyders are “like family to me now," and that she and her team members receive regular updates on Harley’s condition.  

“We’re cheering him on,” Robinson said. “It’s heartwarming to know your work is making a difference.”  

The emotional presentation of the Community Service Award was followed by the conferment of the Exceptional Case Award, honoring Detective Michael Polcar, Officer Miguel Tellez, and Detective William Baker for their fast work in apprehending a murder suspect just over an hour after the suspect committed the crime.  

Community Service Officer Eufracio “Ace” Lanta, who was hired just a year ago at twenty years old, was then named Civilian of the Year for his proactivity and eagerness to support fellow department members. Sekhon noted that for the first time in BART Police Awards history, Lanta’s nomination came from multiple sergeants and officers.  

Three members of the public were recognized with the Good Samaritan Award: William Hannigan, Cynthia Christian, and Shawyan Moosavi. Sekhon said the group sprang into action in December 2022 to restrain a suspect on a train until police arrived. Moosavi was in attendance to collect the award.  

The Life-Saving Award honored Sergeant Shaun O’Connor, Officer Prabhdeep Chehal, Officer Teaundre Matthews, Officer Frances Shannon, Officer Michael Roman, Officer Justis Miller, Officer Travis West, Officer Glen Eddy, and Officer Marc Mabalot. In January, the officers worked together and demonstrated creativity and quick-thinking to ensure a man was brought to safety from the trackway.  

Three awards followed, including Patsy Lara-Hernandez being named Dispatcher of the Year. Lara-Hernandez was commended for always maintaining high spirits in the dispatch center as well as her ongoing efforts to train new employees. She brought a special guest to the ceremony – her new baby.  

Officer of the Year Garrett Dibble was recognized as a standout member of the department for his exceptional work ethic, his regular volunteering efforts, and his passion for police work. “I have no doubt that this will be the first of many recognitions in his career,” Sekhon said. After the ceremony, Dibble noted that the award “is a career accomplishment for me." 

The final honoree was Sergeant Christopher Plumley, who was honored with the Chief’s Award. Plumley was commended for helping to further define and expand his role as Administrative Patrol Sergeant as well as assisting in the creation of the department’s redeployment plan, which he helped roll out in March 2023.  

After the ceremony, Plumley said it “means a lot to be recognized, but it’s always a team effort.”  

“We’re a family when we come in each day, and a family when we go home,” he said. His words provide a neat summary for the spirit of the awards ceremony and the department ethos at large.  

Congratulations to the 2023 BART Police Award Winners 

Community Service Award: Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) Amnesty Afholderbach, CIS Natalie Robinson, CIS Ciaundria Allen, and CIS Leslye Chavez 

Exceptional Case Award: Detective Michael Polcar, Officer Miguel Tellez, and Detective William Baker  

Civilian of the Year: Community Service Officer Eufracio “Ace” Lanta  

Good Samaritan Award:  William Hannigan, Cynthia Christian, and Shawyan Moosavi 

Life Saving Award: Sergeant Shaun O’Connor, Officer Prabhdeep Chehal, Officer Teaundre Matthews, Officer Frances Shannon, Officer Michael Roman, Officer Justis Miller, Officer Travis West, Officer Glen Eddy, Officer Marc Mabalot 

Dispatcher of the Year: Dispatcher Patsy Lara-Hernandez 

Officer of the Year: Officer Garrett Dibble 

Chief’s Award: Sergeant Christopher Plumley