Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART

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BART team wins top prize at international competition Jul 11, 2017

Show notes

The International Rail Rodeo is a special opportunity for transit agencies to show off their top talent and BART rose to the occasion. In the latest edition of our series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” you’ll meet the BART team that won the overall title at this year’s competition. This is the first time that BART has taken home the top overall prize. The participants say it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. They also say the competition highlights the skill and determination that BART’s train operators and mechanics bring to their jobs every day. Read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170711-0

Go inside our Emergency Operations Center Jun 09, 2017

Show notes

Safety and security are a primary focus at BART and that commitment is visible at our Emergency Operations Center. On this episode of “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we’ll take you inside our Emergency Operations Center to learn what BART is doing to be as ready as possible for any disaster that could strike the region. BART Emergency Manager Marla Blagg talks about this ongoing responsibility that BART has made a top priority. Blagg also has tips on what riders can do to help keep themselves and fellow BART passengers safe. Read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170609-1

Go inside the Wheelhouse for BART to OAK May 31, 2017

Show notes

Getting people between Oakland International Airport and the Coliseum Station quickly and safely is right in BART’s Wheelhouse. On this edition of "Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART" we’ll take a look behind the scenes at the Wheelhouse, the hub of activity for BART to OAK. The ride is smooth and quiet but there’s no mistaking the sound when you go inside the Wheelhouse. It's a cavernous building made of concrete with more than 18-inch thick walls. The 3.2-mile extension relies on state-of-the-art equipment but it also uses technology that traces its roots back to the 19th century. Learn more about BART’s Wheelhouse with the Superintendent of Operations for BART to OAK, Mike Forte. Read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170531

You might be surprised by what's BARTable May 18, 2017

Show notes

In our latest edition of “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we learn about all things BARTable. The site has only been around for a couple of years but already it has generated a large following among those interested in fun activities that are just a BART ride away. Few transit agencies have a campaign like BARTable that shows off all the interesting places people can visit by riding a train during non-commute hours. It’s a popular program that has some exciting changes on the way. In this episode of Hidden Tracks we will hear from BARTable Manager Andrea Frainier and BART Marketing Manager Dave Martindale. You can read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170518

BART train operator brings a sense of humor to the afternoon commute May 08, 2017

Show notes

Train operators are a critical part of the team that keeps BART moving around the Bay. The system may be automated but the operators are the eyes and ears of the trains. It’s an important job but a sense of humor can still come in handy. In our latest edition of “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we take a ride with Bob Malito, who is better known as Captain Jack to tens of thousands of riders who take BART between Pittsburg/Bay Point and San Francisco International Airport. Malito is well known throughout the system for his funny station announcements. Listen as Malito describes the challenges of his job and how he comes up with some of his best material. You can also read the transcript: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170508

A new strategy helps BART to reduce delays in the Transbay Tube Apr 06, 2017

Show notes

BART is using a new strategy to reduce delays through the Transbay Tube. During peak commute hours BART is now deploying mainline technicians at both ends of the Tube at our West Oakland and Embarcadero stations. These highly-trained technical experts spend the commute riding dozens of trains through the Tube. That allows them to respond much more quickly to mechanical issues that can stop a train in a critical choke point for the entire system. In the latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we learn more about this new strategy and how it’s already making a difference. We also hear from one of the mainline techs who is using his nearly 28 years of experience with BART to keep the trains moving. You can read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170406

New efforts to build sustainability at BART Mar 15, 2017

Show notes

We’ve been hearing a lot about the many improvements that BART is investing in when it comes to its aging infrastructure, station upgrades and of course the Fleet of the Future. But there are also some exciting plans in the works when it comes to sustainability and BART’s impact on the environment. From solar panels to accommodating electric vehicles to focusing on new sources of renewable energy there is a lot going on. To learn more about these ambitious plans, we hear from Holly Gordon who is BART’s Sustainability Group Manager. You can also read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170315-2

Maintaining BART's right-of-way is a 24/7 job Mar 03, 2017

Show notes

The term "right-of-way" might be a familiar one when it comes to driving, but it is also a phrase that is critically important when it comes to operating a railway. This time on our podcast series we’re going to learn about BART’s right-of-way team. That’s a group that plays a critical role in making sure the trains keep running. We’ll get an inside look at the train control group that maintains some 5,000 critical assets at BART. We’ll also learn about the right-of-way crews that work to keep debris and other obstacles off the tracks. It’s an around the clock job that becomes even more important during a stormy winter such as what the Bay Area has been experiencing. You can read the transcript here: http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170303

Go inside BART's version of mission control Feb 03, 2017

Show notes

In this latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we take you behind the scenes of the Operations Control Center. The OCC is the nerve center of the BART system. This is where a dedicated team of problem solvers oversees BART's critical infrastructure as well as all of the trains as they carry tens of thousands of passengers. Public safety and doing everything possible to keep the trains on time are critical concerns. It’s a fast-paced environment where collaboration is the key. In this episode we hear from one of the managers of the control center as well as a train controller who has been with BART for more than two decades. You can read the transcript here: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170203

The public gets its say on critical issues facing BART PD Jan 24, 2017

Show notes

2017 is shaping up to be an important year for the BART Police Department. In the latest edition of our podcast series “Hidden Tracks: Stories from BART” we take a closer look at the citizen oversight model that’s playing an important role in charting the direction of BART PD. The department is one of the few in the country that is overseen not just by an Independent Police Auditor but also a Citizen Review Board. Now those entities are seeking greater public input as the debate begins over proposed changes to BART PD’s use of force policy. You can read a transcript for this podcast at: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2017/news20170124-1

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