Ride BART to MLK Day celebration

BART trains will carry riders from throughout the system to Civic Center Station on Monday, January 16 for Northern California's largest celebration honoring the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Martin Luther King Day celebration takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. in San Francisco near the Civic Center BART station.

For the seventh consecutive year, BART will provide commemorative Martin Luther King Day Flash Passes distributed free through the Northern California Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance Committee. Flash passes are good for BART rides to and from the event. For flash pass information, call 510/268-3777 or visit www.norcalmlk.org. To plan your BART trip, use the online QuickPlanner. BART will be running on a regular weekday schedule on January 16.

The Martin Luther King Day celebration will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, food and special guests.

Unlike past years, there will be no organized march along Market Street involving passengers from Freedom Trains arriving at the Civic Center Station because the format for the celebration itself has been changed. Instead, this year all BART trains will be designated Freedom Trains on MLK Day. Train Operators will make special Freedom Train announcements as trains approach the Civic Center Station and the destination signs on platforms will provide information about the MLK Day celebration.

BART's administrative offices will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday.