Problematic California subway system Sets Post-Pandemic Ridership Record with 224,721 Exits

BART has been focused on enhancing rider safety and cleanliness, with its Safe & Clean Plan making strides in recent months.Photo byjonthesquirrelonUnsplash

BART reached a new milestone on Thursday, setting a post-pandemic ridership record with 224,721 exits — the highest daily number since March 2020. This marked the third consecutive day that BART’s ridership exceeded 200,000 exits, a promising sign for the transit system as it continues to recover from pandemic-related declines.

September has been a particularly strong month for BART, with ten of the top ridership days since the pandemic occurring in this period. Weekday ridership has remained robust since Labor Day, thanks to a combination of factors including major events in the Bay Area. The Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, the final Oakland A’s home games, and concerts, as well as community events like Oakland Pride and the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, have all contributed to the uptick in ridership.

“While our ridership numbers have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, these high ridership days are proof that our work to improve the rider experience with the Safe & Clean Plan and other efforts are paying off,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers.

BART has been focused on enhancing rider safety and cleanliness, with its Safe & Clean Plan making strides in recent months. According to the latest data from BART Police, unwanted behavior on trains has decreased thanks to an increased presence of safety personnel in stations and on trains. Through July, violent and property crimes have declined year over year, with overall crime on the system down by 13%, even as ridership rises.