BART early 2023 track projects to focus on improving reliability in the East Bay

(Updated 2/21/23)

BART’s next round of major trackway repairs will focus on the Yellow Line in the East Bay, which is the busiest in the BART system. The upcoming work is made possible by voter-approved Measure RR, which is providing $3.5 billion to rebuild BART’s core infrastructure.

*Over Presidents Day weekend, February 18-20, 2023, BART crews worked around the clock to replace 7,350 feet of worn rail between the Rockridge and Lafayette stations. Free buses replaced trains between the Rockridge, Orinda, and Lafayette stations all three days of the holiday weekend. 

*On five non-consecutive weekends in April, May and June workers will replace an interlocking between the Rockridge and Orinda stations. Interlockings allow BART to safely move trains from line to line and are an essential part of the system. Free buses will replace train service at the Rockridge, and Orinda stations on all five weekends. The tentative weekend dates for this project are April 1-2, April 15-16, May 13-14, May 27-29 (Memorial Day weekend), and June 10-11. Riders can expect delays of 30 minutes in the work area.

The equipment being replaced is decades old and has outlived its design life. Riders will enjoy a smoother, safer, more reliable, and quieter ride once the projects are complete. The Yellow Line is the busiest in the BART system.

This upcoming work is part of BART’s overall effort to improve the safety and reliability of the 131-mile, 50 station system. There are now more rebuilding projects happening across BART than at any point in its 50-year history. You can learn more about the progress of this work by reading the 2022 Measure RR Annual Report published by the independent Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee.

You can keep up with the latest updates for trackway repair projects that impact service by going to https://www.bart.gov/schedules/advisories.

(Article originally published 1/10/23)