Brochure - Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FUTURE

Bay Area Rapid Transit

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Bay Area Rapid Transit

Moving Forward with the Future Written by: Robert Spence Produced by: Seth Lull

Customer technology, green initiatives, and its fleet of the future is putting Bay Area Rapid Transit on track for the next 40 years

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Bay Area Rapid Transit Moving Forward with the Future

T

he concept of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) dates back to 1946.

However, it wasn’t until September of 1972 when the rail car service officially opened its doors to the public.

Since then the agency has provided fast, reliable transportation to residents throughout the bay area, connecting the San Francisco Peninsula with Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Dublin/ Pleasanton, and other cities in the East bay. Through 100 miles of track and service in four counties, BART is able to carry 400,000 passengers a day with 95 percent on-time performance.

Additionally, the transit agency has applied a variety of long-term initiatives to improve its carbon footprint and infrastructure, as well as upgrade its customer service ability. The agency has projects in place to put Bay Area Rapid Transit on track for the next 40 years.

“We’re gearing up for the future,” says Luna Salaver, communications manager for Bay Area Rapid Transit. “QUOTE”

first transit agencies in the nation to establish open data sharing, which first began in 1998. Since then, BARTS has enabled various applications for passengers to view departure times, service advisories, and directions in real-time with third-party apps. Passengers can receive email and SMS updates, as well as utilize BART’s own mobile web app. “Now we’re at a point where everyone is doing it,” says Salaver.

According to a recent analysis, BART has more apps per rider than any agency in the country. Not only does this empower customers with choice, but it creates competition among developers to see who can serve BART customers best as well as spur innovation in the app and mobile space.

BART is also a member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). With constant contact with transit leaders, the agency is able to better network with other public transportation organization, working together to provide the best service possible for passengers.

Customer Service at your finger tips It might seem like common practice today, but BART was one of the

Fleet of the Future According to the American Public Transportation Association, Bay Area Rapid Transit has the oldest

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fleet of rail cars among large domestic transit agencies. BART knows this and understands over the next decade the rail cars will only continue to travel more miles getting battered by weather conditions and becoming technologically obsolete. To combat these growing issues, the BART Board of Directors voted unanimously to reinvest $46 million in its fleet of the future.

The new rail cars will help reduce travel times by having more doors and less noise. BART is requiring the builders to meet the highest standards in the United States regarding train car interior

noise and noise absorption. BART has also implemented additional features requested specifically by passengers. The new cars will feature more designated areas for bikes and wheelchairs, as well as more open seating. According to Salaver, “The Fleet of the Future will only include digital screens to enhance passenger information and security cameras to assist BART police in monitoring the safety of our passengers.�

BART has also approved the final assembly of the cars to take place in the United States with at least 2/3 of the manufactured components being made in the

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U.S.A. The innovative new rail cars will arrive in 2015 for testing, with the first passenger service train rolling out in 2017.

BART is also keenly aware of its aging infrastructure and the need to modernize it. The transit agency has identified $6 billion worth of essential capital need in the next 10 years.

These costs include upgrading 104 miles of track as well as modernizing its 44 stations and train control system.

One of the added benefits of BART’s fleet of the future is how environmentally sustainable it is. The new fleet is the lightest mass transit

Bay Area Rapid Transit Moving Forward with the Future Supplier Profile

efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions across its organization.

In 2002 the agency adopted a West Bay Builders renewable policy promoting the Employees: 175 use of environmentally friendly Established: 1989 access modes; such as bikes, walking, and buses. Since then, Management: Bay Area Rapid Transit has installed Paul Thompson, President 5,383 lockers, racks, and bikes Joe Hass, Vice President stations for passengers, as well fuel Website: efficient hybrid vehicles for parking www.westbaybuilders.com enforcement and maintenance.

In 2009 BART started the first of three energy projects aimed at sustainability with its Richmond maintenance shop. The upgrade Visit us online: included installing 912 photovoltaic energy panels estimated to avoid more than 4.4 million pounds of rail cars in the world. Not only carbon dioxide emissions over a does their design reduce energy 20 year period, and generating consumption, the trains actually enough power to lift a 25-ton car. convert their kinetic energy of The second project is its Hayward motion into electrical energy as maintenance Complex (HMC). the train slows down. The energy The $369 million renovation regenerates during the process and consists of major improvements is returned to the power distribution to three properties on the west system where it is then reused by side of the existing Hayward other trains.

Yard. The deal would also provide additional storage tracks for up to Green Initiatives 250 additional BART cars as well In a major overhaul to go green as fulfilling objectives centered and curb its carbon footprint, on upgrading its maintenance BART has, and will, begin program. implementing several projects The agency recently adopted towards sustainability, energy the Environmental Design 7

Bay Area Rapid Transit Moving Forward with the Future

standards for all of its stations and facilities. The strict guidelines focus on water conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable construction materials, and indoor environmental quality. “California has long been in the forefront of environmental protection and it involves things like air quality, water quality, sustainability, and reducing greenhouse emissions,” says Salaver.

Over the next 20 years, BART’s green initiatives will be able to shave approximately $3.4 million off its energy costs. “People know when they ride BART they are bettering their environment,” says Salaver. “These projects underscore our mission to provide an energy efficient way to travel 8

around the bay area.

Plans for the Future Since 1972 BART has grown significantly both geographically and ridership. According to the latest projections from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the ninecounty bay are must find a way to accommodate another 2 million residents by 2040. The region also expects to add another million jobs over that period. If BART cannot evolve to meet this need, travel commutes will grow longer, congestion grow worse, open space will be lost and we will suffer from declining air quality.

BART is pioneering new ways to accommodate this growth with

STATISTICS

efforts to find answers to these questions. Under the BART Metro concept, the agency would offer two distinct categories of service: “Metro Core” service between dense urban centers, and “Metro Commute” service throughout the BART system. But BART can’t do it alone. It needs help from the federal government as well as support for residents.

“There has to be more support for transit in terms of dollars,” explains Salaver. “The pot is very small and we have to compete with other transit agencies to get federal funding or local money for federal grants. However, we’re very grateful and appreciative when the federal government does support us.

The BART story began in 1946. It began not by governmental fiat, but as a concept gradually evolving at informal gatherings of business and civic leaders on both sides of the San Francisco Bay. Facing a heavy post-war migration to the area and its consequent automobile boom, these people discussed ways of easing the mounting congestion that was clogging the bridges spanning the Bay. In 1947, a joint Army-Navy review Board concluded that another connecting link between San Francisco and Oakland would be needed in the years ahead to prevent intolerable congestion on the Bay Bridge. The link?

An underwater tube devoted exclusively to high-speed electric trains.

Website:

www.bart.gov

Visit us online:

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Bay Area Rapid Transit P.O. Box 12688 Oakland CA 94604-2688 T: 510 465-2278 www.bart.gov