Bus Bridge and Red Line Cancellation Alert: Free buses replace trains between Rockridge, MacArthur, and 19th Street stations on select weekends
(October 2 update): The track shutdowns that had been planned for two weekends in October and November between Rockridge, MacArthur, and 19th Street stations have been postponed until 2025. The postponement will allow BART to focus on other priorities to improve reliability and limit future disruptions. We also continue to evaluate lessons learned from the first shutdown weekend in June, as we plan to adjust our approach and execution. BART’s goal remains to minimize short term impacts on riders by maximizing work efficiency.
BART crews have begun the process of replacing a series of interlockings between Rockridge, MacArthur, and 19th Street stations. Free buses will replace trains between Rockridge, MacArthur, and 19th Street stations on 18 non-consecutive weekends over the next three years. Riders can expect delays of 40 minutes in the area on those work weekends. There will be no Red Line service on these weekends but the Orange line will serve Richmond riders.
Additional service impacts on all work weekends for this project include:
*Yellow Line will run 20-minute service.
*Orange/Blue/Green Lines will run 30-minute service (usually 20 minutes but not possible given project constraints).
*Service to/from Millbrae will be via the Yellow Line.
*All train schedules will be different from the normal weekend timetables. Please check the Trip Planner to see the new train departure times (use the impacted dates of service when planning).
*Due to the new schedule, the last train departures of the night may be earlier than the regularly scheduled departures.
*MacArthur Station will be open for southbound Orange Line stops from Richmond. No Yellow Line service to MacArthur (Yellow line trains end a Rockridge).
*Orange Line bus bridge will operate between MacArthur and 19th St.
*Yellow Line bus bridge will include buses that go directly between Rockridge and 19th St as well as buses that also stop at MacArthur.
*Lower level platforms at both 12th and 19th Street stations will be out of service.
*All buses used for the bus bridge will be outfitted with racks for bicycles. You can also bring traditional bicycles onto the buses if space allows. Please avoid bringing motorized bikes or eBikes to the bus bridge as they may not be allowed on the buses.
*It might be faster to ride your bike between stations than to take the bus bridge. It might also be faster for Richmond Line riders to ride their bikes directly to 19th Street and take BART to their final destination from there.
Interlockings are a vital part of the BART system. They are segments of the railway that allow trains to safely move from track to track. Shutting down train service in the work area ensures a safe workspace for the project team. Work on this project will happen on select, non-consecutive weekends into 2026.
BART crews will make the most of their time in the system by taking on as many trackway improvement projects as possible on the weekends when this portion of the system is closed to trains. In addition to replacing interlockings, the team will also replace traction power cables, install new train control equipment, install new digital display signs at underground stations up to Berkeley and 12th Street/Oakland City Center, manage vegetation that could impact service, and do deep station cleaning.
This will be one of the most challenging rebuilding projects that BART has ever undertaken because of the location of the project. With limited workspace, crews will be unable to use a crane or other heavy equipment to lift track components into place. Instead, workers will transport all materials on rail and assemble larger components by hand. 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 this project is complete. You can get more details on this project from this staff presentation to the BART Board of Directors.
This project 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 2023 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 our Alerts and Advisories page.
Learn more about the project with our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Also, check out our podcast for an in-depth discussion about the project, its challenges, and long-term benefits for riders.
*This article was originally published May 1, 2024.
