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At its national conference the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) reaffirmed the BART Police Department continues to meet the standard of the group’s Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation. BART PD – which is in the process of filling 29 sworn officer vacancies this fiscal year - was already among the fewer than 6% of law enforcement agencies across the country that has earned accreditation from CALEA. This advanced accreditation places BART PD in an even smaller pool of departments and acknowledges the department’s commitment to following industry best practices, building community trust, and engaging in more than decade long commitment to reform.

“BART PD is working around the clock to ensure every rider feels safe from the moment they step into a station to the moment they arrive at their destination,” said interim BART PD Chief Kevin Franklin. “Our accreditation from CALEA wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of everyone in the department. Certification from CALEA is the gold standard for law enforcement. It shows the confidence of outside experts in the work being done by our department to continue improving, while ensuring we are keeping BART riders and workers safe across the Bay Area.”

BART PD first earned CALEA accreditation in 2019 and had to demonstrate at the conference the department has been meeting or exceeding CALEA’s standards. “We recognize that accreditation is a process, not a destination,” continued Franklin. “We are committed to continuing with the hard work to measure up to CALEA’s high standards as well as the demands of our riders who expect us to do everything we can to keep them safe every time they ride.”

BART PD earned its original CALEA accreditation as part of its more than decade long commitment to police reforms. The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) recommended in its final report issued in 2010 that BPD seek this accreditation. NOBLE conducted a top-to-bottom review of BPD after the tragic shooting death of Oscar Grant in 2009.

BART PD must prove compliance with nearly 400 standards annually as part of the Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The comprehensive process included an on-site review by CALEA which focused on facility inspections, staff interviews, and gathering public input.

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BART Director Bevan Dufty said he was “extremely hopeful” about the upcoming year following a vote today that elected him president of the BART Board. Dufty said he will work hard to support and collaborate with the BART team to solve problems and to anticipate the challenges ahead.

“I am so proud of the work this agency does to support the Bay Area community,” President Dufty said. “I look forward to working hand in hand with the rest of the Board in 2024.”   

President Dufty was first elected to the BART Board of Directors in November 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He represents District 9, which includes portions of San Francisco. Dufty served as president in 2019.

Director Mark Foley, who was elected vice president, said 2024 will be an exciting, but challenging year. 

“There are a lot of great things happening at the agency we should celebrate,” Vice President Foley said. “People in the Bay Area love BART and what we do. We mean so much to people and provide a crucial lifeline for people traveling to school, to doctors’ appointments, and to work.” 

Vice President Foley was first elected to the BART Board in November 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Vice President Foley represents District 2, which includes Antioch, Brentwood, Concord (partial), and other cities and unincorporated communities in Contra Costa County. 

Vice President Foley served as board president in 2021 and vice president in 2020 and 2022. 

Watch Janice Li’s outgoing remarks as Board President, during which she highlights BART’s top accomplishments of 2023.

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An innovative community partnership initiative that leverages BART capital funding to help local agencies make it easier for riders to safely walk and bike to BART stations is awarding funding to seven projects. The Measure RR Safe Routes to BART (SR2B) grant program’s third and final cycle will provide $16 million in funding for the projects, which are located across the three counties that make up the BART District (Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco). The program is made possible through Measure RR which was approved by District voters in 2016 and provides $3.5 billion to rebuild BART’s core infrastructure to make the system safer and more reliable.

The selected projects are focused on improving bike and pedestrian connections to BART. SR2B makes the most of Measure RR dollars by using them to support projects that can offer a minimum funding match of 30% and can provide evidence of governing body support, a full funding plan, and a minimum of 35% design completion.

Here are the projects selected for Cycle 3 awards.

Project                                                                                              Safe Routes to BART funding

• Lakeside Dr/Lake Merritt Blvd. Complete Streets Paving Project              $3 million
• Clement Avenue/Tilden Way: Broadway/Tilden Intersection                     $2.1 million
• Central Embarcadero Safety Projects                                                             $1 million
• Fremont Blvd. Elevated Bikeway                                                                      $3 million
• Union City BART Pedestrian At-Grade Railroad Crossing                            $3 million
• Ohlone Greenway Modernization and Safety Project                                  $3 million
• North Bailey Road Active Transportation Corridor Project                         $0.9 million

The projects awarded SR2B funding were selected from 16 applicants. Equity was a key factor in determining the award recipients. Applicants had to show how projects would improve active access for members of disadvantaged communities. Projects were also graded on readiness, leveraged funding, connectivity, rider experience, community desire, and other factors.

Projects now completed thanks to earlier rounds of SR2B funding include the 5th Street Improvement Project which enhances access to Powell Street Station in San Francisco and the Walnut/Liberty Protected Intersection Project which makes it easier and safer for riders to walk and bike to Fremont Station.

Heading to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at Golden Gate Park this weekend? Public transit is your best bet.

BART riders heading to Hardly Strictly from the East Bay can take a train to Powell Station. Transfer to a Muni 5 Fulton bus or 5R Fulton Rapid on Market Street and ride to Golden Park. 

BART riders coming up from San Mateo County or San Francisco can take a train to Civic Center Station and transfer to a Muni N Judah train on the upper level of the station. The N Judah train will run near Golden Gate Park on Irving and Judah Streets.

Rider Tips

Parking is free at all BART stations except Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose (which are operated by VTA) on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6. Pay for parking easily on the BART app.

Before you leave home, put Clipper card on your cellphone through either Apple Pay or Google Pay. Please ensure you have sufficient funds for a round trip. Plan at the cost of your trip in advance.

Real-time departures and train alerts can be found at bart.gov/eta or on the BART app. 

Discover more fun events happening this weekend on BARTable. 

The BART Board of Directors unanimously elected Mark Foley to serve as its president for the 2025 term during its meeting today, December 19, 2024. Foley served as vice president for the 2024 board term. 

Foley made a point to welcome the four new board members who took office for their first meeting. “Your fresh ideas, new perspectives, and diverse experiences are exactly what we need as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Foley said. “I am confident that your contributions will be invaluable as we work together to shape the future of BART and public transit in our region.”

Foley will lead the BART Board during a time of unprecedented financial uncertainty. The Board of Directors and BART staff are seeking a reliable long-term funding source to replace federal and state emergency funds that are projected to run out in 2026. If unsuccessful, BART faces devastating cuts that will have serious impacts on the quality of life in the Bay Area. 

“The work ahead requires deep collaboration, and I look forward to working closely with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and our partners to develop a regional funding measure,” Foley said.

In his speech, Foley noted some exciting improvements expected in 2025, including the completion of the Next Generation Fare Gate Project, more reliable power for train service thanks to new electrical substations under construction, and progress on a new train control system to increase train frequency and reliability. 

Foley was first elected to the BART Board on November 6, 2018, and was re-elected in 2022. Foley represents District 2, which is in Contra Costa County, and includes the City of Pittsburg, the City of Antioch, the City of Brentwood, the City of Oakley, the northeastern part of the City of Concord and the northern part of the City of Martinez, as well as the unincorporated communities of Mountain View and Vine Hill. District 2 BART stations include: Antioch, Concord (shared with District 1), North Concord/Martinez, Pittsburg/Bay Point, and Pittsburg Center.

Foley previously served as Board President in 2021 and as Board Vice President in 2020 and 2023.

Director Melissa Hernandez elected as BART Board Vice President

The Board of Directors also unanimously elected District 5 Director Melissa Hernandez as Board Vice President. She is the first Latina to serve on the BART Board of Directors.

First appointed to the Board on May 23, 2024, to fill the vacancy for District 5, Hernandez was elected in November. 

District 5 is in Alameda and Contra Costa counties and includes a portion of the City of Hayward, ranging from Castro Valley Station in the north to Hayward Station in the south. It also includes the City of Pleasanton (except for a portion near Kilkare Woods), the City of Livermore, the City of Dublin, the southeastern part of San Ramon, and rural areas in east Alameda County.

Previously, Hernandez served as a City of Dublin councilmember for eight years and also served as the city’s mayor for four years until June 2024. She has chaired three regional transit boards: the Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), Tri Valley/San Joaquin Valley Regional Transportation Authority (Valley Link), and the Finance Committee of the Alameda County Transportation Commission. 

BART's Transit Security Advisory Committee (TSAC) is currently looking to fill several open positions and is accepting applications until May 10, 2024. 

TSAC is the citizen and community oversight committee that works to ensure Assembly Bill 716 (Dickinson) -- which allows BART Police Officers the authority to issue prohibition orders to offenders who are cited or arrested for certain offenses -- is implemented as the Legislature intended. The oversight group, comprised of at least five citizens, serves as a volunteer review body for the implementation of BART’s prohibition policy.

Board-appointed members of TSAC are professionals in the areas of mental health, homelessness, public safety and youth advocacy and cultural awareness. Drawing from their private and public sector experiences, the committee brings a diverse set of skills to the review and execution of the prohibition policy. The advisory committee reports directly to the BART Board of Directors.

BART Transit Security Advisory Committee is currently looking for the following Open Seats:

• Two (2) Alternate Committee Member Seats (for any category, no more than one alternate per category) 
  • Law Enforcement Representative
  • Mental Health Representative
  • Public-at-Large Representative
  • Youth Advocate Representative
• One (1) Law Enforcement Representative Seat
• Two (2) Public-at-Large Representative Seats

Final Filing Date – Applications are due by Friday, May 10, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. (PST)

Please download the application here and return the application form and relevant attachments to the BART Office of the District Secretary at:

2150 Webster Street, 10th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612

Applications may also be emailed to [email protected] 

You may also submit your application using DocuSign by clicking on the following link: E-Application

Please feel free to call the Office of the District Secretary at (510) 464-6083 with any questions.