At BART, we are firm believers that by thinking strategically, working hard, and engaging community, we can and will achieve remarkable things. With that, we chose to end 2020 with optimism.
Here is a list of 50 BART accomplishments in 2020.
Let’s start with improvements to the rider experience:
- We now have 17 Fleet of the Future trains in service
- We opened Berryessa and Milpitas Stations
- We began offering 20% fare discount for eligible low-income riders with Clipper Start
We launched some new features:
- Contactless parking payment via the official BART app
- Customized in-app notifications to make it easy to get the information you need
- Option to text BART police (510) 200-0992
- An online merchandise store so you can celebrate your love for BART
We took big steps forward on exciting multi-year projects:
- Awarded the contract to design and build a modern Communications Based Train Control System that will dramatically improve future BART service
- Awarded the contract for BART’s Digital Railway project to bring next-generation wireless connectivity to riders across the system
- Awarded contracts and began construction to build 22 canopies over entrances at BART stations along Market St. in downtown San Francisco
- Began construction to replace 41 escalators at downtown San Francisco stations
- Initiated Fare Coordination & Integration Study with MTC and regional transit agencies
We made changes within policing:
- Hired Ed Alvarez, a 23-year veteran of the BART Police Department, bringing a new vision for safety
- Created a train team of 12 police officers dedicated to riding trains and walking platforms on nights and weekends
- Launched the successful and award-winning unarmed Ambassador Pilot and formalized the program
- Hired 35 officers, bringing vacancies to a new low of 20
- Established the new Progressive Policing and Community Engagement Bureau within BPD
We advanced police reforms:
- Began Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) training to give officers the skills to safely defuse critical incidents with people experiencing a mental health crisis
- Banned the use of the Carotid Control Hold
- Expanded the officer-worn body camera activation buffer with new audio requirement
- Held 16 stakeholder outreach meetings to solicit feed-back on new public safety approaches with 1000 survey responses
We focused on infrastructure:
- Completed two major track rebuilding projects at Orinda and Hayward
- Accelerated 34.5kV power cable replacement, rail profiling, rail and third rail replacement, tunnel waterproofing, lighting projects and more
We continued efforts to modernize our stations:
- Began construction for 19th Street Oakland Station Modernization; advanced modernization construction at Powell Street and El Cerrito del Norte stations
- Designed and installed new swing style fare gates with a dramatic costs savings due to innovation while also uncoupling BART from a single vendor
- Started construction of energy-efficient lighting upgrades across 14 parking structures, saving the District approximately $22M in energy and maintenance costs over 20 years
- Awarded $3.5 million in Cycle 1 of Measure RR Safe Routes to BART Grant Program to four cities to improve last mile bike/ped access to BART stations
We supported local, small businesses:
- Hosted 44 outreach and matchmaking events between small businesses and Primes to increase opportunities available to small businesse, helping to continue essential construction projects
- Awarded a Progressive Design-Build contract for the new BART Headquarters in Oakland with 32% small business participation
We continued our Transit Oriented Development (TOD) efforts:
- Adopted AB 2923 development principles and released BART’s TOD Work Plan
- Amended policy to support the production of affordable housing by allowing for a discount of up to 60% from fair market value for land for projects with affordable housing
- Approved plans for development at West Oakland Station that includes 762 housing units, 30% affordable
- Selected development team to advance development at El Cerrito Plaza Station
- Our development partners completed over 600 new homes during the pandemic, and broke ground on 400 new homes, 150,000sf of office, & 164 room hotel
We focused on financial stability:
- Secured AAA bond rating
- Advocated for and secured emergency relief funds
- Secured dedicated funding for our long-term efforts to reduce crowding and increase service:
- Full Funding Grant Agreement for FTA Capital Investment Grant ($1.169B)
- California Transit and Intercity Rail Program ($107M)
- California Solutions for Congested Corridors ($60M)
We invested in our employees:
- Developed an emergency budget plan to avoid lay-offs
- Approved new labor contracts more than 6 months early
- 16 employees from 10 departments completed the Government Alliance on Race and Equity training series and established a Race and Equity Action Plan
- Increased inventory and distribution of PPE and disinfecting products, deployed free COVID testing and contact tracing
We prioritized COVID-19 response:
- Was one of the first transit agencies in the U.S. to release a comprehensive pandemic response plan with the launch of the 15-Step Welcome Back Plan
- Made available free masks at all stations
- Offered free hand sanitizer stations systemwide
- Sharing crowding data
- Testing disinfecting technologies and upgraded air filters
- Reprioritized cleaning schedules to ensure all train cars are sprayed with disinfecting mist every 24 hours
- Coordinated with the region’s transit systems to develop the Healthy Transit Plan, establishing a baseline set of COVID-19 response measures across all systems
- Accelerated efforts for a contactless experience with 100% Clipper only conversion systemwide
- Partnered with community organizations, county officials and medical groups to provide free COVID-19 testing in our parking lots and plazas
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