Over the last few months BART has installed 336 new electronic bike lockers at 19 stations. this is the second deployment of lockers around the BART system.

The first shared-use electronic lockers started appearing at BART stations in 2008. BART now has more than 500 electronic lockers available to provide secure, weather-protected parking for bicyclists. (For the complete station list, go towww.bart.gov/guide/bikes)

Unlike older generations of keyed lockers, which had one user per locker, the electronic lockers allow multiple users. "Given real estate constraints at BART stations, there just isn't room for everyone who wants a locker to have their own key-operated locker," said Steve Beroldo of BART's Access Department, who also serves as the staff liaison to the BART Bicycle Task Force, which has a meeting coming up on Feb. 6, 2012. Find out more and download the agenda (.pdf). Beroldo added that, "Frankly, most of the keyed lockers sit empty on any given day because not all key-holding cyclists use them daily." 

HOW E-LOCKERS WORK

To use the electronic lockers a cyclist needs a BikeLink Card.  They can be purchased online for $20 atwww.bikelink.org, retail locations are also listed there.  The card works like a debit card.  The cyclist inserts the card at an available locker, estimates how long their bike will be stored there, backs their bike in and closes the door.  When the cyclist returns, they again insert their card, a rental fee is deducted from the card (currenlty lockers are rented at the rate of 3 cents per hour), the door opens and the cyclist retrieves their bike . . . and they’re on their way.

MORE LOCKERS ON THE WAY

BART staff is currently finalizing plans for the purchase of even more electronic lockers in 2012.  “We’re planning for the installation of between 200-300 additional lockers in 2012," Beroldo said. "Stations likely to receive new lockers include: El Cerrito Plaza, Lake Merritt, North Berkeley, Pleasant Hill, Rockridge, South Hayward and Union City.”  Walnut Creek is a popular biking stations and it will receive over 60 new lockers shortly after BART’s Earthquake Safety program completes its work there—likely early 2013.  “We’ll also monitor usage rates at stations and add more lockers if demand warrants, funding is available and real estate exits," he said.

FUNDING FOR LOCKER PURCHASE

Funding for the lockers has been provided by several grant sources: 

• Alameda County Transportation Commission--Transportation Fund for Clean Air 
• FTA Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
• City of Fremont Transportation Development Act, Article 3
•  MTC's Safe Route to Transit Program
•  Contra Costa County, Measure J Sales Tax
•  Caltrans--State Transportation Improvement Program
  

OTHER BIKE PARKING OPTIONS AT BART

In addition to the electronic and keyed lockers, BART offers hundreds of bicycle racks where cyclists can lock their bikes for free.  Two stations, Downtown Berkeley and Fruitvale, also offer free attended Bike Stations.  At Embarcadero, Ashby and Downtown Berkeley BART operates self-serve Bike Stations that are accessed with the same BikeLink Card used for electronic lockers (more information about BART’s Bike Stations at: http://bartbikestation.com).

Of course, cyclists can bring their bicycles on most trains and folding bikes are allowed on all trains.  The QuickPlanner at bart.gov and the printed schedules identify which trains allow bikes.  Generally non-folding bikes are not permitted during the busy rush hours
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As a Bay Area transit rider, you might have been taking advantage of the federal pre-tax commuter benefit.  But you might not have heard that Congress let the tax provision expire at the end of 2011 and it is no longer applicable --unless Congress acts to re-establish this important tax benefit. Without an extension commuters will see their maximum subsidy drop back to $120, while the maximum parking benefit will remain at $230.

With funding dwindling for public transit and highway congestion increasing, now is not the time to discourage use of public transit and its assets.  Increased transit ridership financially supports strapped public systems like BART, MUNI and AC Transit.  If the federal tax law on fringe benefits doesn’t treat transit and parking equally, it will be like a tax increase on participating transit riders and employers at a time when transit ridership should be encouraged for the environmental, energy, economic, and quality of life benefits that transit provides.

Please let your congressional representatives know you use transit and want the transit commuter benefit to be reinstated as soon as possible. Here are links to find the contact info for your Representative and Senators:

Contact your Congressional Representatives: http://www.house.gov/representatives/
Contact  your US Senators:  http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

In 2009, President Obama signed the provision into law that increased the amount of mass transit and vanpool benefits that could be excluded from an employee's gross income.  As part of the  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) the Pre-tax Transit Commuter Benefit, increased the maximum transit benefit for workers -- nearly doubling the amount from $120 per month to $230 per month -- making it equal to the parking benefit and giving people more incentive to use public transportation and vanpools.  It was extended at the end of 2010.

There are indications signs that another extension is on the list of items Congress will attend to when they return from their recess – and this could include making the benefit retroactive to the beginning of this year.  But we can be  assured this will happen without public support. It’s time to reenact the pre-tax commuter benefit as a permanent part of the tax code. Please show your support by contacting your elected officials.

BART will run on a Saturday schedule on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

A Saturday schedule means that BART service begins around 6 am and ends around midnight. In addition, some trips may require transfers that are different from the schedule for regular weekday service. To plan a trip and get exact train times for your route, check the BART QuickPlanner.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is also observed as a parking holiday at BART. That means that parking permit and fee requirements are not enforced in station parking facilities. Read more in the parking section.

BART will operate longer trains to help passengers get to and from San Francisco and Oakland international airports on the day before Thanksgiving — Wednesday, November 23, which is traditionally the busiest travel day of the year. There will also be longer trains on Sunday, November 27 — the day when most of those airport travelers return home.

On Thanksgiving Day itself, Thursday, November 24, BART will run on a Sunday schedule, with service beginning at approximately 8 a.m.

On Wednesday, November 23, and Sunday, November 27, BART will run longer trains on the Pittsburg/Bay Point (yellow) line to accommodate air travelers. The Pittsburg/Bay Point line serves the San Francisco International Airport. BART and Oakland International Airport (OAK) jointly operate AirBART, a dedicated shuttle between the Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station and OAK every 10-15 minutes, with extra shuttles beginning on November 22 through November 29. One-way fares are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children (ages 11 and under), seniors and disabled adults with an I.D., and can be paid onboard the shuttle with cash or a BART ticket (exact amount only). Please note that AirBART buses do not have the onboard equipment to accept Clipper cards.

Additionally, BART will significantly increase the number of available seats by making trains as long as possible on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 25, which has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Full-length trains will operate from 6 a.m. to close of service for bargain hunters looking for extra room to carry their bags of gifts onboard.

200 ADDITIONAL AIRPORT/LONG-TERM SPACES 
From November 21 through November 28, 2011, and then again from December 20, 2011, through January 2, 2012, BART will make 200 additional parking spaces available for Airport/Long Term parking reservations. With the exception of West Oakland Station and Coliseum stations, reserved spaces are available at most East Bay BART lots for just $5 per day. Reservations for Airport/Long Term parking are also available at the Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno and Millbrae BART stations for just $6 per day. Visit www.bart.gov/parking for more information or to make your reservation. Drivers who do not have Airport/Long-Term parking permits are subject to the 24-hour weekday time limit on parking in all BART lots. The fine for violating this provision is $100.

BEST TO PARK BEFORE 10:00 A.M. 
BART guarantees customers an Airport/Long-Term parking spot in the permit reserved parking area if they get to the parking lot before 10:00 a.m. After 10:00 a.m., customers can park in any available space, but BART cannot guarantee them a spot when they arrive.

To plan your trip over the holiday week use the BART QuickPlanner.

The BART Board of Directors voted unanimously Thursday to fund a trial of vinyl cushioned seat covers that will replace the familiar fabric seats in 100 train cars. The Board authorized the General Manager to award a contract for $1,945,234 to buy easier-to-clean, vinyl cushioned seats for 100 train cars with an option to purchase seats for another 100 cars.

“The fabric seats were considered a real attraction when BART began service in 1972, but we’re now carrying 370,000 riders each weekday and those seats are getting much more use now.” BART General Manager Grace Crunican said.  “This trial should give both customers and BART staff a chance to see if vinyl, cushioned seats strike a modern balance between cleanliness and comfort -- an important consideration as we move toward replacing our oldest-in-the-nation train cars with the Fleet of the Future.” 

During a series of seat labs earlier this year, BART staff collected hundreds of comments from the public about what features they’d like to see in future seats. BART staff then sought a vinyl product that met customers' expectations while addressing the agency’s standards for durability, safety and environmental properties. BART’s research led to a product called Prevail made by Omnova, a company that designs PreVail specifically for mass transit.

“In years past, we didn’t use vinyl seat material before because of smoke, fire and toxicity standards; however, Omnova’s product has demonstrated how dramatically vinyl production technology has changed,” BART’s Assistant General Manager of Operations Paul Oversier said. “Just as important is BART’s sustainability standard. Omnova has distinguished themselves as a leader in ‘end of life’ strategies for its product. When the material is no longer useful, instead of trashing it as landfill, this company will reclaim the vinyl for other purposes.”

BART will begin replacing new seats in 100 cars with the most need next spring and will survey customer response.  If riders like the new seats, the seat replacement contract has a 100-car option so BART can quickly expand the order. 

For more information about the seat trial, you can download the presentation (.pdf) that was made to the Board at its meeting.