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The latest numbers from the BART Police Department show through the end of August overall crime in the system is down 15% compared with the same period in 2023. The trend includes a 10% drop in violent crime. The decline in the crime rate comes as BART has been experiencing an increase in ridership. All of BART’s top 10 post-pandemic ridership days were in September, driven by special events including the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco and the final Oakland A’s homestand. Read the full Chief’s Report with all the latest safety numbers.

“The drop in criminal activity on BART is happening as we have been going all out to implement our Safe and Clean Plan,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “Our riders have been loud and clear that they want us to step our game up when it comes to their safety and the cleanliness of our system. We have more work to do on behalf of our riders, but these numbers indicate our commitment to maximizing our visible safety presence is paying off.”

“Since I became BART Police Chief one year ago, it has been my top priority to maximize the number of officers walking trains and patrolling our stations,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “Our officers are more visible than ever. Their efforts are containing relatively small concerns before they grow into big problems that harm service.”

Additional safety highlights from the latest numbers:

*Only 12 electronic thefts and robberies were reported across the entire system in August. That’s the lowest total for any month since 2021 when ridership was much lower than today.

*BART PD reported 13,016 total enforcement contacts through August, up from 7,791 for the same period in 2023.

*BART PD’s response time for Priority 1 emergencies averaged 4 minutes and 25 seconds in August, among the fastest for any law enforcement agency in the Bay Area.

BART’s Safe and Clean Plan is a commitment to riders to maximize resources to boost their safety and provide clean service. BART’s stepped up safety efforts include sworn officers, non-sworn Crisis Intervention Specialists and Transit Ambassadors, as well as the implementation of Next Generation Fare Gates, which have now been installed successfully at seven stations. All 50 of BART’s stations will have Next Generation Fare Gates by the end of 2025.

BART PD patrols a system that spans five counties and includes 50 stations with 131 route miles of track. You can keep up with all BART’s safety trends in the monthly Chief’s Reports.

The latest progress of the Measure RR rebuilding program is making a difference for riders by enhancing the reliability of the system and reducing service delays. The number of trains delayed due to outdated rail fell by more than 400 instances thanks to work that in some cases replaced track that had been in place since the start of BART service in 1972.
 
The reduction in service delays is among the findings in the latest Measure RR Annual Report published by the Bond Oversight Committee (BOC). The BOC’s independent oversight of the rebuilding program emphasizes cost-effectiveness, quality, and timeliness of work completion. The new annual report will be presented to the BART Board of Directors at its meeting on Thursday, July 11.

“Measure RR is a crucial part of our ongoing efforts to ensure BART is truly the safest way to get around the Bay,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “This Measure RR Annual Report highlights how the rebuilding program is boosting safety, making our core infrastructure more resilient, and improving our on-time performance for our riders.”

Through March 2024, $1.81 billion of Measure RR funds have been invested in rebuilding projects. There are now 157 projects in planning, design, construction, or have been completed. A total of 61 projects are complete, including 13 projects that have been completed since the BOC issued its last annual report in 2023. Measure RR money spent, and work completed to this point, have exceeded initial expectations.
 
Much of this progress for riders has been accomplished during weekend track shutdowns, when crews temporarily close a portion of the trackway to expedite track work that’s too large to accomplish during the few overnight hours when BART is not running trains. An example of this work is the ongoing effort to rebuild the core of the system in Oakland. You can learn more about the project and upcoming work dates here.
 
Measure RR is a $3.5 billion bond measure to replace BART’s aging infrastructure. It was approved by voters in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties in 2016.

BOC members review projects and data presented by BART staff in quarterly briefings. Members of the committee can request additional documents, information, and presentations on an ad hoc basis. The BOC is comprised of volunteers who represent a diversity of expertise. The organizations represented on the committee include the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management, the Project Management Institute, and the League of Women Voters of the Bay Area. You can learn more about the committee at bart.gov/bondoversight.