Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART

Latest Episodes:

BART’s wet weather game plan pays off with fewer delays Feb 26, 2019

Show notes

Rain can have a major impact on the Bay Area’s commute and BART is no exception. “Welcome to Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART.” On this edition of Hidden Tracks, we’re answering your questions about why BART so often faces delays when it rains. BART has a game plan to keep weather-related issues to a minimum that’s put into action by a team with decades of experience. Preparation and hard work are key. The effort began well before this winter’s storms arrived. Grounds crews worked for months to trim back trees and brush that could be threatened by powerful winds and rain. That effort has led to a sharp decline in the number of trackway obstructions compared with last winter. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2019/news20190226

Momentum builds for BART's cleaning revolution Feb 19, 2019

Show notes

On the latest edition of our podcast series "Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART" we’re talking about all things cleaning with the two men who have been at the center of an important transformation that has taken place over the last year. BART is redoing the way it cleans its trains and stations. This far-reaching effort is having an impact on hiring, training, where employees are staffed, and even on what kind of cleaning materials are used on the job. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2019/news20190219

Training ramps up to fuel Fleet of the Future expansion Jan 16, 2019

Show notes

More BART riders than ever before can now ride the Fleet of the Future through the Transbay Tube. By mid-February, every transbay line will be served by a Fleet of the Future train. As more new cars arrive, BART is expanding its hands-on training for the operators who will run the new fleet. On the latest edition of our podcast series, “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we’ll learn more about the preparation that goes into being a Fleet of the Future Train Operator. We’ll hear from one of the first graduates of the training program and learn what it’s like to operate one of BART’s newest trains. Read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2019/news20190116

Go inside BPD's video surveillance recovery room Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

BART has a robust video surveillance network. It includes working cameras on board all trains, in every station, and elsewhere throughout BART. But the reason BART police have been able to identify and arrest suspects in connection with several recent high-profile cases has as much to do with the technology as it does the people behind it. On this latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” you’ll hear from one of BPD’s Community Service Officers who specializes in finding key evidence contained on the video files recorded by BART’s cameras. She’s watched thousands of hours of surveillance and says it’s all worth it when it leads to an arrest that makes BART safer. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2018/news20180927-1

BART’s Station Ops Manager uses real-world insight to provide smooth commute Jul 11, 2018

Show notes

It takes a team effort to carry more than 413,000 riders on a typical weekday. On the latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we meet Operations and Transportation Supervisor Phaethon Brown who oversees all station operations throughout the system. Brown has spent more than 17 years with BART including 13 as a Station Agent. He's one of the few people who has been assigned to every BART station. Those years of service on the front lines of customer service give Brown invaluable insight on how BART really works and what it takes to keep things moving during the commute. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2018/news20180711-1

The science of the screech: Big progress for BART's efforts to lower the volume of your ride Jun 06, 2018

Show notes

BART has reached a milestone in its efforts to bring riders a quieter ride. Now more than half of BART’s train cars have been outfitted with an advanced wheel profile that reduces both noise and wear on the rail. On the latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we’re focusing on the science of screech. The new wheel profile has been years in the making. One of our managing engineers talks in-depth about how the design was developed and what’s next for BART’s plan to bring a quieter ride to our passengers. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2018/news20180606

There's more to ticket vending machines and fare gates than meets the eye Mar 30, 2018

Show notes

There’s a lot of technology that goes into making sure you can easily reload your Clipper card or buy a BART ticket and get quickly through the fare gates. On this latest edition of “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we’ll take an inside look at what makes BART’s Ticket Vending Machines and fare gates tick. It takes a dedicated team to keep an array of roughly 1,200 machines in good working order. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with paper tickets, both authentic and counterfeit, that can jam up busy machines First, we’ll visit with one of the technicians who is specially-trained to get malfunctioning machines back in action. Then we’ll hear from John Yen who manages the team that oversees vending and fare gate machines. He’ll share more about the technology upgrades the vending machines have gone through and what BART is doing to make sure they stay in operation for years to come. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2018/news20180330-0

On the front line of customer service: Station Agents see it all Nov 28, 2017

Show notes

Station Agents are the face of BART for many riders but the position might be one of the most misunderstood in the agency. On the latest edition of our podcast series "Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART" we take an in-depth look at Station Agents and the challenges they face on the job. Great customer service is the goal and many times Station Agents must respond to the unexpected. The new podcast explores the various responsibilities Station Agents handle every day and features an extended interview with veteran Station Agent Felicia. Read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20171128

The details on doors: How forcing your way into a BART car can harm service for thousands Sep 28, 2017

Show notes

BART maintenance workers already are doing everything they can to keep as many cars as possible in service. But they’re facing a growing challenge because of an avoidable problem. BART’s service yards are spending precious work hours repairing train doors that were forced open by riders or otherwise damaged. The latest numbers show through August there were at least 200 cases where vandalized doors caused service delays. On top of those delays, critically-needed cars had to be taken out of service for repairs. In the latest episode of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” you can learn more about the problem, how BART is responding, and what riders can do to help. Read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170928

BART has a plan for expected surge in bike usage Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

Several exciting initiatives are underway to make BART even more accessible for bicyclists. In the latest edition of “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART,” we’ll hear from BART Bicycle Program Manager Steve Beroldo. From a big expansion in the Ford GoBike bike share program to new high-tech ways to secure your bicycle there are many bike-friendly ideas that are being turned into realities at BART. Beroldo shares his thoughts about the various programs as well as what he says is a growing trend in the number of people who use their bikes to get to BART. You can read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170831