Search Results
BART’s Station Operations Manager uses real-world experience to provide seamless commute
It takes a team effort to carry more than 413,000 riders on a typical weekday. On the latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we meet Operations and Transportation Supervisor Phaethon Brown who oversees all station operations across BART. Brown has spent more than 17 years with
Versatile but problem-plagued, the last 1990s-era C2 BART car is gone
The last-ever BART C2 car was decommissioned in August 2021 at Hayward Shop. Note the headlights on the end as well as the flat-shaped front. The C2s could serve as lead car with an operator cab or as a middle car, which ushered in a new era of efficiency in dispatch operations when they arrived in the 1990s
Here's how you can help BART keep our rivers and ocean clean
A bioswale at Warm Springs Station designed to prevent storm water run-off. Trash is a major storm water pollutant in California. Because storm water flows to the bay untreated and unfiltered, trash discarded on land frequently makes its way into streams, creeks, rivers, and eventually the ocean, as rain
“Don’t think you can’t do it”: Women in engineering at BART on their triumphs and challenges
When Phoebe Cheng was little, she loved stories. She found that reading and storytelling could transport her to far away places, help her stand in someone else’s shoes, and shed light on why things are the way they are. In school, Cheng discovered new passions – this time for math, physics, and computers
BART installing fiber optic cable between 24th St. and Balboa Park
BART crews will install fiber optic cable between the 24th St. Mission and Balboa Park stations Tuesday, April 10 through Saturday, April 21. The work will start at 10:30 p.m. nightly. BART will close one set of tracks between 24th St. Mission and Balboa Park during work hours. During this work, BART trains
“Out and Proud” BART Directors lead virtual panel on LGBTQ issues for Pride Month
By MELISSA JORDANBART Senior Web ProducerMore than 100 BART employees joined a noon-hour virtual Pride celebration this week, reflecting on BART’s leadership for LGBTQ equality with hope and optimism on the same day California reopened and lifted most pandemic restrictions.The “Covid coming out party” of
Poster art by Berkeley illustrator brings touch of natural beauty to BART stations and trains
A new series of three art posters featuring California native flora and fauna is bringing a touch of natural beauty to BART stations and trains. The posters were created for BART by award-winning Berkeley illustrator Mick Wiggins, who drew inspiration from natural history museums. "I spent some time in the
BART PD reports surge in arrests as more officers patrol trains
Felony arrests on BART increased 62% last year compared with 2022. The jump comes as BART PD has been aggressively recruiting new officers and ensuring safety staff are riding more trains to increase their visible safety presence. BART officers recorded 726 felony arrests in 2023 compared with 448 for 2022. Along with those arrests 49 illegal firearms were seized in 2023 compared with 40 the previous year. It’s the most guns BART PD has recovered in a year since at least 2003. BART PD has already recovered a dozen firearms so far this year.
“These latest arrest and gun seizure numbers are a credit to all the hard work of our officers,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “Since we started deploying more patrol officers to ride trains we have seen an impact, and our riders are telling us they notice the difference.”
In the latest Quarterly Performance Review the percentage of riders who reported seeing BART PD on their trip reached a record high of 20%. That’s up from the previous record of 17% the previous quarter. The last two quarters have been the first in BART’s history where the percentage of riders who reported seeing BART PD exceed the department’s official goal of 12%.
BART has been working to implement its Safe and Clean Plan which focuses on boosting the visible safety presence in the system and increasing staffing to clean trains and stations.
BART PD has also been advancing an aggressive officer recruitment campaign to fill its remaining vacancies. This effort has been boosted by a 22% salary increase for officers, which was approved by the BART Board to ensure BART PD remains competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. Anyone interested in joining BART PD can learn more at joinbartpd.com.
(Examples of recently seized guns)
First BART Police Auditor brings big-city experience to transit police oversight
By Melissa Jordan BART Senior Web Producer As a young law student, Mark P. Smith interned with the civilian oversight agency for the Los Angeles Police Department. At that time, the LAPD was still reeling from the Rampart scandal, one of the most notorious cases of documented police misconduct in U.S. history
New video boosts BART PD effort to hire more officers
BART PD’s aggressive public outreach campaign to hire more officers is getting a boost from a just released recruitment video. The new video highlights the real-world experience of BART PD officers and shows what it’s like to work in a dynamic transit environment. The department has been going all-out to fill all its vacant officer positions. In the latest quarter BART PD received 837 officer applications, a record high for any quarter in the department’s history.
“This video is the latest tool we are adding to our hiring arsenal,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “We have been reaching out to officer candidates by hosting recruitment open houses, attending job fairs, promoting open positions on social media, and various other methods of outreach. We are doing whatever it takes to find high-quality candidates who want to join us on our mission of ensuring that BART is the safest way to travel around the Bay.”
BART PD currently has 23 officer vacancies, which is down from 29 just two months ago. BART PD is now onboarding 7-9 new officers per month.
A key focus of BART PD’s recruitment campaign has been to highlight the recent 22% salary increase for officers. The BART Board of Directors approved that increase in June to ensure pay at BART PD remains competitive with other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. Since that time, BART PD has seen a nearly 50% increase in its monthly sworn officer new hire rate. The pay increase is in addition to the $15,000 hiring bonus currently being offered to new hires. BART PD has increased the frequency of its testing and has also streamlined the hiring process so qualified candidates can join the department more quickly.
BART PD has launched the Join BART PD website, which is exclusively geared towards providing candidates with all the information they need to apply. Since its launch in July the site has attracted more than 80,000 views.