Around the Bay this Weekend: Beyoncé, Braves v. Giants, and big BART news
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.