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BART expands service for Thanksgiving travel, holiday shopping

BART will operate longer trains on Wednesday, November 26, and Sunday, November 30, to accommodate holiday travelers.  On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, BART will run on a Sunday schedule, with service beginning at approximately 8 a.m.  While service starts two hours later on Thanksgiving Day, BART officials want to remind the public that BART’s 2008 schedule offers 33% more service, so there will be the same frequency of trains customers enjoy on a non-holiday. BART will resume normal weekday service on Friday, November 28.

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year and once again BART will provide convenient, affordable and reliable transportation to shoppers. Full-length trains will operate from 6 a.m. to close of service, almost doubling the number of seats available to BART riders during the late morning and early afternoon hours.

TAKE BART TO THE BEST SHOPPING

BART stations are conveniently located near some of the best shopping areas in the Bay Area. Here are just a few examples:

  • Powell Street Station serves the Westfield San Francisco Centre mall and is just a block or two from Barney’s and other world famous stores of Union Square.
  • Embarcadero Station is steps away from top-brand retailers in the Embarcadero Center.
  • Bay Fair Station is next to Bayfair Mall.

  • Rockridge Station is in the heart of Oakland’s trendy Rockridge district.

  • San Bruno Station is adjacent to the Tanforan Shops.

  • Oakland City Center/12th Street Station serves Oakland City Center mall and the shops of downtown Oakland’s shopping district.

Shoppers taking BART on Friday are likely to find another bonus: with many workers taking the day after Thanksgiving off, more parking will likely be available at BART stations. East Bay and Peninsula residents can stash their cars at BART Stations and forget the hassle of trying to negotiate crowded city streets and paying exorbitant parking fees.

PARKING REGULATIONS IN FULL EFFECT FRIDAY

Since BART treats Friday, November 28 as a regular weekday, BART Police will enforce all parking regulations. Fee parking will be in effect at applicable stations and vehicles parked over the four-day weekend without an Airport/Long-Term permit will be subject to the $100 fine.
 
MAKE THE TRAIN-TO-PLANE CONNECTION

On Wednesday, November 26 and Sunday, November 30, BART will run longer trains on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line to accommodate air travelers. The Pittsburg/Bay Point line serves the San Francisco International Airport. The AirBART Shuttle between the Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station and Oakland International Airport will operate extra shuttles, running 10 minutes apart.  AirBART Shuttle costs $3.00. Riders may pay with cash or buy a $3 ticket at the ticket kiosk in the Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station.  As an added service to airport travelers, BART is offering 540 Airport/Long-Term additional parking spaces for this Thanksgiving season and is urging the public to purchase their parking permits early. Permits are available now, but only online at www.bart.gov/parking. BART does not sell permits at any stations. First-time customers can learn how to purchase a ticket by watching the Airport/Long- Term parking segment on BARTtv News at www.BART.gov/BARTtv. 

HOLIDAY SECURITY REMINDER

BART police remind riders to be cautious during the shopping season.  "Holiday crime knows no boundaries; it can happen in a mall, a movie theater or on public transit," BART Police Chief Gary Gee said.  "We urge our customers to be aware of their surroundings when they shop and while they're on BART."

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

  • Don’t carry large sums of cash; instead use a single debit or credit card for shopping
  • Don’t carry wallets or other valuables in back pockets
  • Keep wallets secure - use purses or bags with zippered compartments
  • Keep iPods, cell phones, MP3 players and other small electronics in a secure place
  • Shop in teams–it’s safer and more fun to shop with friends and family
  • Be wary of someone trying to create a distraction, such as dropping coins or bumping into you–some pickpockets work in teams
  • Don’t leave anything—from small change to shopping bags—in your vehicle for thieves to see
  • Report suspicious activity to BART Police toll free at (877) 679-7000
  • Program the BART police number above into your cell phone so you can call it quickly from almost anywhere in the BART system