What Are BART’s Recent Plans on Improving Public Safety and Security?

Rider safety is now the number one concern of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors. At a meeting on September 27, BART directors and the general public were able to meet and discuss a new safety and security plan. After three homicides and other deadly crimes that have happened at BART stations in the last few months, General Manager Grace Crunican saw the new changes as necessary. The fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Nia Wilson in Oakland this past July sparked outrage among the local and national public.

What Will the BART Safety and Security Meeting Address?

The meeting also included an update on the transit system’s proof-of-payment plan. A presentation helped to cite data, as well as a hearing on a demand to hire more community service officers to grow the program that was launched in January. This community ambassador program would be designed after the San Francisco Muni’s Transit Assistance Program, which trains unarmed workers to resolve disputes on buses.

The board will also receive an update on efforts to fix station infrastructure in order to prevent fare evasion. BART officials are debating on whether they should replace the current system’s fare gates. There were also recommendations presented that will improve police staffing for BART’s police department agency. This is a crucial step in boosting security for the stations, something that the community has demanded since the recent attacks.

Are you concerned about your safety while riding BART? The premises liability attorneys at Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. can help if you or a loved one suffered injuries while using BART. Contact us today.