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Two projects transforming BART entrances along Market Street marked significant progress as May gave way to June.

The Escalator Replacement Project opened a completely rebuilt escalator at Embarcadero Station on May 31, 2024, connecting the platform to the concourse level near the Beale St. entrance. Crews are set to rebuild another platform escalator at the other end of the station next. 

Meantime, two crews farther down Market Street are advancing as well. Workers rebuilding platform escalators at both Civic Center and Powell Street stations are approaching the finishing line. 

Not to be outdone, the Canopy Project completed a new canopy above an entrance at Montgomery Street Station the evening before the escalator at Embarcadero was opened. The new canopy at the entrance near Sutter St. contributes to better security and will provide protection to a new escalator when the unit at that entrance is rebuilt. 

Together, the Canopy and Escalator Rebuilding projects are improving the safety and cleanliness of entrances along Market St, BART’s most heavily used stations. 

Riders should expect delays of up to 20-minutes on the Antioch Line in the Antioch and SFO directions due to scheduled track maintenance between Concord and North Concord on Saturday 1/13/24 and Sunday 1/14/24.

Trains will share one track between Concord and North Concord in both directions while crews work on track infrastructure upgrades in this section.

These delays will also impact train departure times down the line because the trains will be arriving a few minutes later than usual. Check real time departures for your station to see what to expect.

Also, since you are here, heads up that on Monday, January 15, 2024, BART will run a Saturday schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Saturday service means BART will open at 6am and close at midnight and there is less service on the Yellow line (service every 20 minutes). 

January 15th will also be the first day of minor schedule changes. Some departure times have shifted by a few minutes and we encourage riders to check to see if their trip is impacted. 

Installation of Next Generation Fare Gates is scheduled to begin the week of August 11th at Fruitvale Station. The installation process is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. This work comes after the successful installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at West Oakland Station.

During construction, there will be a barrier around the existing station gate array.  Riders will use two temporary accessible gates to enter and exit Fruitvale Station.  Both gates are located next to the Station Agent Booth, one on each side. When facing the booth from the non-paid area of the station, the fare gate to your right is used to enter the station and the fare gate to your left is used to exit. The gates will work for both directions if needed to clear a line of riders.

Additionally, a carpet will be installed immediately before the entrance to each fare gate, to make these two gates easier to locate for riders with visual impairments. The removal of the old gates and installation of the new gates will not impact train service. 

All BART stations will have new fare gates by the end of 2025. You can learn more about BART’s Next Generation Fare Gate project here.

The Link21 Program is making progress toward its goal of creating a faster, more connected train system across the 21-county Northern California Megaregion that provides equitable, affordable, and accessible travel for future generations. One key aspect is building a second underground train crossing of the San Francisco Bay, allowing riders to travel to various destinations in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento area, Monterey Bay area, and Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Link21 recently completed an exciting analysis of the different benefits that standard-gauge (Regional Rail) and broad-gauge (BART) train technologies can provide to the region through this project. This Program milestone will determine which technology should operate in the new crossing as an important step toward defining a project that will provide riders with enhanced and more reliable travel options.

Through the spring and early summer, Link21 is on an informational roadshow sharing analysis findings that demonstrate how the two technologies provide similar benefits and where they differ in terms of service, equitable outcomes, connections, and operations.

“Link21 will make investments to offer more train service for future generations to thrive, connect, and flourish in our vibrant Megaregion,” said Link21 Program Director Sadie Graham. “The community and stakeholder engagement we do now and the decisions we make will help ensure the project delivers accessible, reliable, and environmentally conscious transit solutions that will benefit our communities for years to come."

Virtual Community Meetings

Register at Link21Program.org/events to attend a meeting via Zoom and hear a presentation from Link21 Team members.

• Thursday, June 6, 2024 | 6-7:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 10, 2024 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Meetings will be interpreted in Spanish and Cantonese. To request American Sign Language and other accommodations, email [email protected] or call 855-905-Link (5465) at least three days in advance of the meeting date. 

Online Open House

Visit Link21OpenHouse.com anytime 24/7, starting in mid-June, to conveniently participate when it works for you, whether it’s from the comfort of your own home or while commuting on the train. The Online Open House will be available for several weeks.

Can’t make the events? Link21 will be in local communities. Visit Link21Program.org/events for more information.

About Link21

Link21 is a long-range transportation program sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority. Together with partners, Link21 will transform the train system within the 21-county Northern California Megaregion, which includes the greater San Francisco Bay Area, the Monterey Bay area, the Sacramento area, and the Northern San Joaquin Valley.  

Link21 will make it more convenient for people to take BART and Regional Rail (commuter, intercity, and high-sped train service) throughout the Megaregion. 

Learn more at Link21Program.org.

Installation of Next Generation Fare Gates is scheduled to begin the week of October 27th at Coliseum Station. The installation process is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. This work comes after the successful installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at eight stations across the system including Fruitvale and West Oakland.

During construction, there will be a barrier around the existing station gate array.  Riders will use two temporary accessible gates to enter and exit Coliseum Station.  Both temporary gates are located next to the Station Agent Booth. When facing the booth from the non-paid area of the station, the fare gate to your right is used to enter the station and the fare gate to your left is used to exit. Additionally, a carpet will be installed immediately before the entrance to each fare gate, to make these two gates easier to locate for riders with visual impairments. The removal of the old gates and installation of the new gates will not impact train service, but riders may experience a few minutes wait to pass through the temporary gates during peak travel hours. 

All BART stations will have new fare gates by the end of 2025. You can learn more about BART’s Next Generation Fare Gate project here.

Installation of Next Generation Fare Gates is scheduled to begin Friday, October 4th at 16th Street Mission Station. The installation process is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. This work comes after the successful installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at 24th Street Mission, Civic Center, Fruitvale, Oakland International Airport, and West Oakland stations.

During construction, there will be a barrier around the existing station gate array.  Riders will use two temporary accessible gates to enter and exit 16th Street Mission Station.  Both gates are located next to the Station Agent Booth, one on each side. When facing the booth from the non-paid area of the station, the fare gate to your left is used to enter the station and the fare gate to your right is used to exit. Additionally, a carpet will be installed immediately before the entrance to each fare gate, to make these two gates easier to locate for riders with visual impairments. The removal of the old gates and installation of the new gates will not impact train service. 

All BART stations will have new fare gates by the end of 2025. You can learn more about BART’s Next Generation Fare Gate project here.

UPDATE: Monday, July 15, 2024

The elevator was put back in service on Monday, July 15, 2024 just before 3pm.

UPDATE: Monday, July 15, 2024

Due to unforeseen issues, the estimated return to service date for the elevator is Tuesday, July 16, 2024. 

The concourse to platform elevator at Powell St. Station will be taken out of service on Monday, July 8, 2024 for emergency replacement of cables. The elevator is expected to be back in service by Friday, July 12, 2024.

This is the only concourse to BART and Muni platform elevator at Powell St. Station. Riders will not be able to access the Powell St. Station platforms via elevator from the concourse or street level, nor exit the Powell St. Station platforms via elevator to get to the concourse or street levels.

We recommend riders use the Civic Center or Montgomery Street stations as alternatives. Powell Street Station is 0.4 miles away from Civic Center Station and 0.5 miles away from Montgomery Street Station. Riders can use Muni at street level to travel to and from the Civic Center and Montgomery Street stations. To check if an elevator is in service before arriving at a station, please call 510-834-LIFT (510-834-5438) or 888-2-ELEVAT (888-235-3828), or sign up for elevator status alerts at www.bart.gov/elevators.

If you arrive at any station and find that the elevator(s) are out of service, you may contact a Station Agent to arrange for a lift van to take you to a nearby station with a working elevator.

We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

Updated September 21, 2023

The Embarcadero Station entrance at Market and Davis streets is expected to open Tuesday, September 26th will remain upon completion of Phase II work on a new canopy.

Updated September 15, 2023

The Embarcadero Station entrance at Market and Davis streets will remain be closed until at least September 21st as Phase II work on a new canopy continues.

Updated August 31, 2023

The Embarcadero Station entrance at Market and Davis streets will be closed for up to three weeks for the Phase II work on a newly opened canopy. The Phase II work includes installing an access door, new glass panels, and a luminated handrail. The new entrance canopy protects  our escalator at this entrance from the elements to help limit breakdowns.

Original bulletin

On Monday, August 28 the Embarcadero Station entrance at Market and Davis streets will be closed for up to one week for the Phase II work on a newly opened canopy. The Phase II work includes installing an access door, new glass panels, and a luminated handrail. The new entrance canopy protects our escalator at this entrance from the elements to help limit breakdowns.

While this entrance is closed, patrons will still be able to use one of the other entrances to the station. Entrances open during construction include Pine and Market streets as well as Drumm and Market streets.

Over the next 4-5 years BART will construct 16 canopies on Market Street over downtown station entrances.  As part of a separate project, new escalators will be installed at each of these locations following the canopy construction.  In addition to protecting new escalators the canopies will improve safety and reduce station maintenance costs.

We thank you for your patience as we work to complete this important construction project.  For more information on this project visit: bart.gov/about/planning/sfentrances.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s approval today of state budget funds and other regional funds for Bay Area transit agencies bolsters an ongoing regional coordination effort and provides essential stopgap operational funding for transit in the Bay Area. Today’s action is a culmination of hard work led by transit agencies and the MTC to advocate for operations funding to ensure continued transit service throughout the Bay Area.

MTC Commissioners approved a distribution framework for an anticipated $447M in state budget funds from Senate Bill 125 and approximately $300 million of regionally controlled funds to transit agencies while requiring that the agencies enhance the customer experience and improve internal efficiency.

Bay Area transit General Managers are meeting on a weekly basis to enhance coordination between agencies and improve connectivity. This transit network coordination work will require more funding to ensure agencies can continue to run reliable service while also focusing on new enhancements. 

A key component in the decision to allocate these funds will be the continuing implementation of the Transit Transformation Action Plan, a comprehensive plan for better regional transit coordination and improved rider experience. It encompasses closer fare coordination such as the Clipper BayPass pilot, the expansion of Clipper START offering discounts for low income riders, free or discounted transfers between systems, aligning schedules so it’s easier for riders to make connections between agencies, and more understandable mapping and wayfinding with a uniformed approach to signs to help riders navigate their way through transit systems. 

While state funds are vital to continue near-term operations, they fall short of the Bay Area’s funding needs beyond FY26. The MTC and the Bay Area transit agencies are studying options for additional revenues including a regional transportation measure in 2026.

MTC plans to revisit the estimated needs for all operators each year to program the following year’s funding. The proposed programming amounts for all operators across FY25 and FY26 are included in the table below. 

Transit agency General Managers praise the new funding and support.

BART General Manager Bob Powers said, “This funding from the MTC supports BART’s new Safe and Clean Plan to welcome riders back to our system and it buys us time to explore a sustainable funding model while avoiding devasting service cuts. Our latest data shows our investments are paying off with great improvements in reliability and police presence. BART is also committed to continue working with all Bay Area transit agencies on transformational improvements that will improve service for transit dependent riders and make it easy for people to ditch their cars and take transit instead. We want to thank the Commission for their approval of these funds and their leadership throughout this process.”

SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin said: “This is very good news for the nearly half a million people who ride Muni every single day. It gives Bay Area transit agencies more time to recover from the impact of the pandemic, which changed commute patterns and is still taking an economic toll on downtown San Francisco. These funds will keep Muni financially stable for longer than we had expected provided that we don’t expand Muni service beyond current levels. We’d like to thank MTC, the state legislature and the governor for their actions to make this happen. We’re proud that despite our financial challenges, Muni service is safe, clean, fast, frequent and reliable -- and we plan to keep it that way.”

Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard said: “We are grateful to our state leaders for securing these funds and to MTC for the proposed FY26 allocation to Caltrain that will allow us to continue working with our regional partners to coordinate an easy and integrated experience for Bay Area transit riders. With the launch of electrified service next year, Caltrain will greatly improve our service and the rider experience. Electrification will mean up to 25 minutes in time savings on local trips and increase of service to all the stations, including half hour service during weekends and off-peak hours. The trains will have wi-fi, power outlets at every seat and new safety features. We are proud to keep working on a world-class, modern and climate friendly system that the region deserves.”

Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District General Manager Denis Mulligan said: “We want to thank MTC, the state legislature, and the governor for their continued support of Bay Area transit. These funds are a much-needed shot in the arm that will help us provide first-class bus and ferry service for our customers into the future. We look forward to continued collaboration with our transit agency partners to roll out even more improvements for Bay Area riders.”