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BART supports accountability and oversight

As BART seeks temporary state funding to avoid steep service cuts, it fully supports calls for transit accountability and reform. BART is among the transit agencies that have agreed to the California Transit Association’s proposed Accountability and Reform Framework.

The framework would build upon the existing foundation of robust oversight and community feedback at BART, which consists of:

The Office of the Inspector General

The BART Inspector General plans, directs, and manages the independent oversight of all District activities and operations to ensure the effective use of resources and compliance with applicable federal and state laws.  The Inspector General is empowered to conduct independent audits and investigations and to provide reports of findings to BART’s Board of Directors, the California State Legislature, and the public.

Office of the Independent Police Auditor

The Office of the Independent Police Auditor’s mission is to provide all members of the public with effective and independent oversight of the BART Police Department by conducting unbiased and thorough independent investigations and reviews of police department investigations, making policy recommendations to improve the performance of the police department, and maintaining continual communication with members of the public in the BART service area.

Police Citizen Review Board

Members of the BART Police Citizen Review Board work to increase the public's confidence in BART's policing services by:

  • Reviewing, recommending and monitoring the implementation of changes to police policies, procedures, and practices
  • Receiving citizen allegations of on-duty police misconduct
  • Advising Board of Directors, General Manager, Independent Police Auditor, and Police Chief
  • Participating in recommending appropriate disciplinary action
  • Meeting periodically with representatives of the BART Police associations
  • Participating in community outreach

Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee

The Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee’s duties and responsibilities are:

  • Provide diligent, independent and public oversight over the expenditure of funds from the sale of District general obligation bonds
  • Assess how bond proceeds are spent to ensure that all spending is authorized by the ballot measure
  • Assess whether projects funded by bond proceeds are completed in a timely, cost-effective and quality manner consistent with the best interest of BART riders and District residents
  • Publish an annual report that includes a detailed account of the Committee’s activities including its expenditures

Earthquake Safety Program Citizens’ Oversight Committee

The role of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee is to verify that BART spends 2004 Measure AA bond revenues as promised on earthquake safety retrofits. Specifically, the duties and responsibilities of the committee are to:

  • Review scheduling and budgeting of projects to be funded by the bond measure,
  • Confirm that work is completed and bond funds are expended in accordance with the bond measure,
  • Inform the public concerning expenditures of bond revenue

In addition to the above oversight entities, BART has a network of citizen task forces to guide policy direction, such as the Accessibility Task Force, the Bicycle Advisory Task Force and Link21 Equity Advisory Council.