Transportation
BART is capturing the attention of the next generation of riders by introducing anime mascots, community events, and creative outreach programs that make public transit more engaging and accessible. BART’s initiative to increase youth ridership is centered on creating a connection between younger generations and public transportation. By building loyalty among younger riders, BART aims to secure its long-term future, ensuring it remains a vital option for the Bay Area’s evolving transportation needs. Spearheading this initiative is Alicia Trost, BART’s…
Transit agencies in the East Bay are promoting California Clean Air Day on Wednesday, with several providing free fares to encourage riders to use public transit. The goal of Clean Air Day is to encourage residents to participate in more sustainable activities to minimize air pollution. The agencies offering free rides include the San Francisco Bay Ferry, WestCAT, Wheels and County Connections. But the largest transit agencies in the Bay Area — AC Transit, BART, and MUNI — will not…
“People of Richmond” is a regular series in which reporters pose a question to people in the community. Answers are presented verbatim, though sometimes edited for brevity. Q: Have you noticed a difference in BART’s service now that the fleet has all new trains? “They have certainly got more aesthetic appeal which I appreciate. In terms of service being better, worse or same, I’d say same. I’m always struck by how few riders there are, which just shocks me. I’d…
Dozens of models strutted down a runway at the Rockridge BART station on Saturday, the crowd around them whooping and snapping cellphone pictures. Their outfits were stylish, original and almost entirely made of paper — old BART tickets to be precise. In a competition between four schools, students from the Academy of Art University, Oakland School for the Arts, City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University were tasked with one job: upcycle old BART tickets into fashion. …
For the next five months, beginning today, riders on both BART lines that end in Richmond will have to deal with interrupted service that could cause delays of about 40 minutes. BART is replacing interlockings between the Rockridge, MacArthur, and 19th Street stops today and Sunday. Interlockings enable trains to move from track to track. “It’s essential rebuilding work. We’’re replacing equipment that’s been there since we started service back in 1972,” BART spokesperson Christopher Filippi said. BART will provide…
Despite setbacks caused by COVID-19, AC Transit expects to meet its 2023 goals to convert 10% of its bus fleet to zero emission vehicles. The California Air Resources Board enacted a regulation in 2018 that requires all public transit agencies to transition from diesel fuel to 100% zero‑emission bus fleets by the end of 2040. AC Transit set an internal goal of converting 10% of its 630 buses to zero emission technology by the end of this year, said spokesperson…
Richmond is set to relaunch its electric bike share program after a two-year hiatus. The project will be through a partnership between Richmond and Today, a company that focuses on urban mobility through cycling. Residents can expect to see 130 e-bikes on the streets by Dec. 1, said David Touwsma, co-founder of Today. That number, he added, will increase to 300 by the spring. “The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that we provide something other than traditional…
It was a sunny, hot afternoon; Rosalyn Heimberg, 84, a retired antique dealer, was at the hearing aid center for a scheduled appointment. “I got to my appointment on time but had to wait about 40 minutes for the driver to pick me up when I was done,” Heimberg said. This wait was longer than expected but not unusual for Heimberg and others who rely on Richmond’s Paratransit service, R-Transit, which provides low-cost transportation to West Contra Costa County residents…
Dozens of people interested in learning more about electric vehicles, ride share programs, and other ways to reduce their carbon footprints gathered at Richmond Civic Center Plaza Thursday for the ninth “Drive Electric” event. Part of National Drive Electric Week, the event raises awareness about electric vehicles as an option. Volunteers set up booths to interact with passersby during lunch time. Some learned about electric car and bike rebate programs from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Metropolitan…