Night Board meeting to cover e-cigarette ban, role of art at BART

The BART Board of Directors will meet Thursday, Jan. 22 at 5 pm to consider a range of topics including a newly proposed ordinance to restrict smoking of e-cigarettes / vaping devices as well as a presentation on the role of public art in existing and future BART facilities.

The meeting will be held in the BART Board Room at the Kaiser Center, located at 300 20th Street in Oakland and will be streamed live at www.bart.gov/board.  Additionally, the full agenda is available to download as a PDF for those interested in a detailed summation.

E-CIGARETTE AND VAPING DEVICE BAN

The Board will take the first steps toward banning these devices as a courtesy to passengers as well as to update the no smoking policy to be more in line with similar county and city-level bans.  Currently, e-cigarette use at BART is not regulated.  Without state and federal guidelines, BART’s only immediate option is to enact an ordinance to enforce the restriction.

“A number of complaints have reached the Board of Directors about people using electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on BART property,” said Director Robert Raburn.  “Other transit providers have enacted prohibitions that we now propose to enact.”

If the proposed ordinance passes, signage in stations and trains will be updated to ensure riders know about the new restrictions.  The Board’s action will be considered the first of two readings of the proposed ordinance. The Board will consider the adoption of the ordinance at a Board meeting in February. 

ROLE OF ART AT BART

Also up for discussion is the current and future role of art in BART towards making transit work, creating a place, and connecting to communities.  This will be the first of three Board of Directors meetings on the development of an art policy at BART.  

“An art policy and program could provide BART the potential to integrate art into our station modernization efforts, prevent graffiti, establish community partnerships, and celebrate culture and diversity,” said Board President Tom Blalock.