BART’s new safety initiatives appear to be having an impact on improving the rider experience through a sharp reduction in the number of incidents delaying train service according to BART Police.
From May through October the number of trains negatively impacted by BART Police Department incidents has fallen by more than 60%. The dramatic drop comes as BPD has boosted train patrols, the BART schedule was changed to emphasize shorter trains to boost safety, and other initiatives outlined in the Safe and Clean Plan have been implemented.
Here are the latest numbers:
- The number of BPD incidents causing delays fell from 374 in May to 295 in October.
- The number of trains impacted by BPD incidents declined from 1,144 in May to 694 in October.
- Total train minutes lost due to BPD incidents dropped from 9,878 in May to 6,380 in October.
“These numbers paint a picture of how our commitment to rider safety is paying off,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “Fewer delays due to BPD incidents not only shows safety is improving but it helps our on-time performance. This is a win-win for riders as we deliver on our commitment to ensure BART is the safest way to travel around the Bay.”
BPD doubled the number of officers on trains in March as part of BART’s Safe and Clean Plan. BART PD is using both traditional sworn officers as well as unarmed Crisis Intervention Specialists and Transit Ambassadors to boost its visible safety presence in the system. Trains were made even safer in September when BART’s reimagined schedule was launched. The new schedule allowed BART to eliminate near-empty train cars by shortening the least-crowded trains.
“The sharp decline in the number of trains being delayed due to BPD incidents is an important indicator that our new safety initiatives are making a difference, “said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “We are aggressively moving forward with our officer recruitment campaign and hope to boost our visible presence even more as we work hard to hire more cops.”
Safety on BART will get another boost in December when the first new fare gate prototypes will be installed at West Oakland Station. These new gates will be taller and stronger than the ones that have been in place for decades. They will deter fare evasion while also improving overall access by relying on high-tech sensors to provide safe access for riders in wheelchairs as well as those who are using strollers or luggage.
Image: by bay area council
Poll Say BART Riders Would Return with More Police, Greater Cleanliness and Enforcement of Rules
San Francisco — BART riders and others who have stopped using the system or reduced their use dramatically say they would return in significant numbers if crime, safety and cleanliness issues are addressed, according to new polling released today by the Bay Area Council.
Concerns about crime far outweigh remote work as the reason they are not riding. The findings offer an encouraging path forward for a system that is teetering on the brink of a fiscal cliff as BART ridership hovers at historic lows following the pandemic.
A Bay Area Council analysis of the poll findings suggests that by taking a much stronger and swifter approach to crime, safety and cleanliness, BART could see up to 300,000 more trips over the course of the workweek, pushing ridership above 50% of pre-pandemic levels.
Key Findings
- 79% say they feel more comfortable riding BART when there is a uniformed police officer or security present
- 73% say BART should prioritize adding more uniformed police on trains and in stations
- 62% say BART should improve fare gates to prevent fare evaders; 66% want fare gates to fully enclose station entrances
- 79% say BART should eject people from the system that violate the passenger code of conduct, which prohibits drugs, smoking, drinking and other illegal or unacceptable behavior
- 65% say BART should focus on core operations and leave social service issues to other public agencies
- 90% put high priority on more frequent cleaning
See Full Story — click here
Previous Stories
- July 28 – BART Board Opposes Bill to Decriminalize Fare Evasion
- June 22 – BART Police to Get Pay Raise
- May 30 – BART Police Say Arrests Are Up
4 comments
BART isn’t fooling anybody with this fake news.
Hardee Har Har …You FUNNY!
Don’t believe your lying eyes!
Agree with you 100%. It was better before Oscar Grant happened and when officers made sure the car you were getting into was your vehicle. I worked in SF from Jan 5, 74 until June 15, 2021 when SF and BART became unsafe. These creeps follow you off the train to your car, try to rob you on the train if you doze off, break into your vehicle or just vandalize it for kicks, etc., etc., etc. Too many people carrying tasers, weapons, pepper spray on BART now, or just psycho and unruly because they are under the influence. Would love to be able to ride it to SF; Antioch got burned by Joel Keller with e-BART when we were promised regular BART when buying our homes and paid for regular BART Service. It is easier just to go over to Concord than do anything they have going out here. 60% fewer incidents lies, lies, lies. They just don’t document anything so they can fudge their figures.
BART has zero credibility.
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