BART seeks your input at a series of community meetings

BART will be making sweeping improvements to the way it reaches out to minorities and other underrepresented communities before raising fares, changing service significantly or implementing other transportation decisions that affect riders. Beginning Wednesday, March 31, BART will embark on an ambitious and unprecedented public outreach strategy to hold 17 community events in just 22 days. 

These series of community meetings will target minority and low-income communities along with those who have limited English skills.  The purpose is to ask these typically underrepresented communities the most effective ways BART should reach out to them so agency officials have a better understanding of their needs before making major transportation decisions.

"As the BART district continues to grow and become richer with its diversity, we are looking for ways to expand and improve our outreach to minorities, women and other underrepresented communities particularly when we have significant changes to service or implement transportation decisions that affect all our customers,” BART Board President James Fang said. “The goal of these meetings with these underrepresented communities is to renew our contact with them and listen to their recommendations on how to further enhance our outreach process so they are aware and a part of major transit decisions by BART. We want everyone to have the opportunity to shape BART's future.  After all, BART belongs to the people of the Bay Area, and it's imperative our public outreach process reflects the diversity of the people who live here."

BART is encouraging people to attend these meetings in person if possible.  The agency will provide refreshments.  BART will also provide translation and child care services if requested 72 hours in advance. A full schedule of the meetings, along with the names, emails and phone numbers of those to contact, is listed below.

Should people not be able to attend the meetings, they are still invited to share their thoughts by taking a few minutes to complete an online survey (NOTE: online survey closed 05/04/10). However, attending meetings is preferred, because it will provide BART staff with a better opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts.

Alameda County (.pdf)    |   Contra Costa County (.pdf)    |   San Francisco and San Mateo Counties (.pdf)

 

Alphabetical list of meetings by county:

ALAMEDA COUNTY
(For more info contact June Garrett, BART Government & Community Relations,
(510) 464-6257 or [email protected])

BERKELEY (near Ashby BART)
Friday, April 9
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
South Berkeley Senior Ctr.
2939 Ellis Street

FREMONT
Wednesday, March 31
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Fremont Library, Fukaya Room B
2400 Stevenson Blvd.

HAYWARD (near Hayward BART)
Friday, April 2
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
City Hall, Room 2A
777 B Street

OAKLAND (near Fruitvale BART)
Tuesday, April 6
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
San Antonio Neighborhood Community Ctr.
2325 East 12th Street

OAKLAND (across from West Oakland BART)
Monday, April 5
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Mandela Gateway
1350 7th Street

SAN LEANDRO
Thursday, April 1
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
San Leandro Library, Estudillo Room
300 Estudillo Avenue

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
(For more info contact Walter Gonzales, BART Government & Community Relations,
(510) 464-6428 or [email protected]]

ANTIOCH, OAKLEY, BRENTWOOD
Thursday, April 1
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Antioch High School
700 West 18th Street

CONCORD, PLEASANT HILL
Wednesday, April 14
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Cambridge Elementary
1135 Lacey Lane

EL CERRITO
Saturday, April 10
10:00 am - 11:30 am
El Cerrito Community Center
7007 Moeser Lane

PITTSBURG
Tuesday, April 6
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Pittsburg High School
250 School Street

RICHMOND
Wednesday, March 31
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Catholic Charities of the East Bay,
English Action Center at Grace Lutheran Church
2369 Barrett Avenue

SAN FRANCISCO/SAN MATEO COUNTIES
(For more info, contact Molly Burke, BART Government & Community Relations,
(510) 464-6172 or [email protected])

BAYVIEW
Tuesday, April 6
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Bayview YMCA, Community Room
1601 Lane Street, San Francisco

CHINATOWN
Monday, April 12
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Cameron House, Main Hall
920 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

EXCELSIOR
Thursday, April 8
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Ocean Avenue Presbyterian Church, Willis Hall
32 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco

MISSION
Monday, April 5
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Valencia Gardens, Community Room
390 Valencia Street, San Francisco

SAN BRUNO
Wednesday, April 21
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Saint Bruno's Church,Parish Hall
555 West San Bruno Avenue, San Bruno

TENDERLOIN
Wednesday, March 31
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Cova Hotel, 8th Floor Meeting Room
655 Ellis Street, San Francisco

Originally posted March 23, 2010; updated with new details on March 29, 2010; updated to close survey May 4, 2010.