Face masks required on BART
Sept. 22, 2022 update:
The current mask mandate will expire after 10/1/22. The BART board has approved a resolution authorizing the General Manager to amend the Customer Code of Conduct to impose a mandate within the paid areas of the BART system that would require riders and employees to wear a face mask under specific scenarios. View the details here.
July 28, 2022
The BART Board of Directors has voted to reinstitute a face mask requirement effective immediately until and inclusive of October 1, 2022, unless further extended by the board. The temporary amendment to the District’s Code of Conduct requires riders to wear face masks that fully covers a person's nose and mouth in paid areas of the system with limited exceptions. This requirement applies to trains and all portions of stations beyond the fare gates. Children ages two and under as well as people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt from the mandate.
The Board will agendize an action item at the September 22, 2022, meeting to determine if the mandate should be further extended.
Free masks are available at station agent booths and from all safety staff for those who need one. BART PD will continue its education-based enforcement of the mask requirement by offering free masks to anyone who needs one before taking any enforcement action which could include a citation up to $75 or being ejected from the paid area.
July 26, 2022 Update
The Board will vote to require face masks (fully covering nose and mouth) while inside the paid area of BART until October 1, 2022, unless further extended by Board resolution. Currently masks are strongly encouraged.
July 18, 2022 Update
The mask mandate expired July 18, 2022. BART strongly encourages riders to wear masks in the system. Free masks will continue to be made available at station agent booths as well as from safety personnel. BART trains feature robust air circulation including MERV-14 air filters on all cars that are dense enough to trap the virus. Air is replaced every 70 seconds onboard train cars.
April 28, 2022 Update
On April 28, 2022, the BART Board of Directors approved a temporary amendment to the District’s Code of Conduct to require riders to wear masks in paid areas of the system with limited exceptions. This requirement applies to trains and all portions of stations beyond the fare gates. Children ages two and under as well as people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt from the mandate. The rule is effective until July 18, 2022, unless it is extended by the BART Board.
Free masks are available at station agent booths and from all safety staff for those who need one. As with the previous federal mandate, BART PD will continue its education-based enforcement of the mask requirement by offering free masks to anyone who needs one before taking any enforcement action which could include a citation up to $75 or being ejected from the paid area.
Throughout the pandemic BART has prioritized the safety of riders. BART has installed MERV 14 (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) air filters on all train cars new and old. These filters are dense enough to trap the virus and provide an extra layer of protection to our riders. Air is replaced every 70 seconds onboard cars mixing filtered air with fresh air. That means the circulation on BART train cars is better than most offices. In addition, all BART employees are fully vaccinated.
April 20, 2022 Update (4:45pm)
BART has confirmed there are no longer any federal, state, or local level directives that enable a mask mandate on BART. Like other transit agencies, BART's mandate was based on the now withdrawn TSA directive. In addition, on Wednesday, April 20, the California Department of Public Health terminated their statewide order requiring masks on transit and is now strongly recommending people wear masks on transit.
Pending any future developments from the local, state, or federal level, masks are now optional and strongly encouraged on BART.
BART Board President Rebecca Saltzman announced the Board of Directors will consider a proposal to continue to require masks in the BART system at its next meeting on Thursday, April 28.
Free masks are still available from all station agent booths and from all safety staff for those who need a mask or forgot one.
BART has Merv 14 air filters on all train cars new and old. These filters are dense enough to trap the virus and provide an extra layer of protection to our riders. Air is replaced every 70 seconds on board cars mixing filtered air with fresh air.
All BART employees are fully vaccinated.
April 19, 2022 Update:
BART officials are currently touching base with other transit agencies in the Bay Area and looking to see if there is any movement on the local, state, or federal, level about a mask mandate for transit. BART hasn't made an official or final determination if a mask mandate will continue on BART.
Once we make an official determination, we will communicate it.
April 14, 2022 Update:
The TSA extended the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs through May 3, 2022.
March 10, 2022 Updated
At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month, through April 18th.
December 2, 2021 Updated
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the face mask requirement for all individuals in indoor areas of public transit facilities and on trains through March 18, 2022.
August 20, 2021 Updated
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued an updated Security Directive that requires face coverings for all individuals in indoor areas of public transit facilities and on trains through at least January 18, 2022. According to current CDC guidance, persons in outdoor areas of transit stations are encouraged, but not required, to wear a face covering.
Updated signs have been posted at the entrance of all BART stations about the requirement and timeline.
June 14, 2021 Update
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has an active Security Directive that requires face coverings for all individuals in indoor areas of public transit facilities and on trains through at least Sept 13, 2021. According to current CDC guidance, persons in outdoor areas of transit stations are encouraged, but not required, to wear a face covering.
Signs have been posted at the entrance of all BART stations about the requirement and timeline.
2/1/21 Update:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an Order on January 29, 2021, requiring the public to wear face masks while on transit. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a Security Directive (SD) January 31, 2021 that is effective February 1, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. The SD was issued to enforce the requirements of the CDC Order mandating masks as well as implement President Biden's Executive Order issued on January 21, 2021.
BART has had a face covering mandate since April 22, 2020 due to local county ordinances. This will continue.
Federal and local county health orders require all riders to wear face coverings inside BART stations and on-board trains. The local orders require BART to take reasonable measures to remind the public that they need facing coverings and “must take all reasonable steps to prohibit any member of the public who is not wearing a face covering from entering and must not serve that person if those efforts are unsuccessful and seek to remove that person.” Failure to comply with the emergency health order is a misdemeanor. Enforcement began Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Prior to the order, most BART riders were already wearing face coverings while riding. BART will take the following steps to be compliant with the new orders.
All stations have free masks available. See the Station Agent if you need one. Police officers and Ambassadors carry extra masks as well.
Public Communication
- Signs with pictograms have been posted in all stations stating: Face coverings required. Please keep 6 ft apart. Non-medical masks, bandanas, scarves, and cloth can be used.
- Posters have been placed on board trains, including posters which show how to wear a mask correctly
- Posters are hung up at all station agent booths noting the requirement and that free masks are available
- PA announcements inside stations and on-board trains
- Platform digital sign messages
- Website updates and social media posts
BART Police Deployment and Enforcement Strategies
BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez recently shifted deployment to focus police resources to the entrances of stations and near the faregates. This strategy was put into place to improve safety for our employees and riders and to prevent illegal behavior from occurring. Continuing this deployment will help BART enforce the new orders.
BART Police will be responsible for reminding riders of the new requirement. Consistent with BART’s current operating procedures, Station Agents will not be used to enforce the new public health emergency orders as they are not trained law enforcement personnel.
BART Police will give verbal reminders of the requirement to riders without face coverings when police encounter someone not covering their mouth and nose. Police personnel will remind the rider they have the option to use any material to cover their face. Only upon refusal to cover their face with any material will an officer ask the person to leave the system.
Riders should not confront others without a face covering. If someone isn’t wearing a face covering, riders should move away from the individual.
BART survey takers are monitoring mask compliance, measuring the number of people who are properly wearing face coverings that cover both mouth and nose at all times. As of December 2020, mask compliance is an average of 92% across all hours of service. BART publishes its mask compliance rate as part of the, "Riding Together, Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan" at http://www.healthytransitplan.com/
The impact of these orders on BART employees and contractors include:
- Employees and contractors must wear mask/ coverings when:
- in any BART facility
- in any BART parking lot or garage
- in any train (in or out of service)
- in any District vehicle with others
- Masks/ coverings are not required but must be readily available (around neck or in pocket) and can be quickly put on if someone enters the room or workspace in these situations:
- in nonpublic office alone
- in a breakroom alone
- on the right of way, including yards and local control, where social distancing is observed (six-foot separation)
The District has distributed N95 and surgical masks to certain specified employees and will distribute surgical or cloth masks to all employees as required to comply with the health order.
마스크 착용 필수.
6 ft 이상 간격을 유지하세요.
비의료용 마스크, 반다나, 스카프, 천을 사용해도 됩니다.
Se requiere llevar la cara cubierta.
Por favor, mantenga una distancia de 6 pies.
Se pueden usar mascarillas no médicas, pañuelos, bufandas y tela.
Kailangan na may mga pantakip sa mukha.
Maglayo-layo sa agwat na 6 talampakan.
Puwedeng gumamit ng mga non-medical mask, bandana, panyuwelo (scarf), at piraso ng tela.
Cần phải che mặt.
Xin vui lòng giữ khoảng cách 6ft.
Có thể dùng các loại khẩu trang không dành cho y tế, khăn bandana, các loại khăn quàng, và miếng vải.
須戴上臉罩。
請保持 6 英尺的距離。
可以使用非醫用口罩、頭巾、圍巾和布塊。
