Earlier this year the BART Board of Directors delayed action on a slightly different demonstration program, which would have extended train service by one hour on Friday nights, and started service one hour later on Saturday mornings. On June 23, 2011, the Board deferred taking action on the results of public input, from on-board surveys conducted on two Saturdays in May, 2011. Survey results indicated that the proposed change would have an adverse effect on early Saturday morning riders who are predominately low-income and minority. Because of the May 2011 survey results:

• BART is proposing to modify the proposed demonstration program by extending Friday night service by 30 minutes and delaying Saturday morning service by 20 minutes.

• BART will also survey early Saturday morning passengers to solicit input on whether proposed new bus service would adequately address any adverse effects experienced by early Saturday morning riders. 

The proposed bus service will provide early Saturday morning service on lines that do not have available public transit alternatives. Although BART is not proposing bus service for passengers on lines that have public transit alternatives, BART will survey these passengers to determine if such a proposal is adequate.  BART will provide several opportunities for passengers potentially impacted by the 20 minute Saturday morning proposal to comment on its adequacy:

• On Saturday, October 8, 2011, BART will provide on-board informational fliers on the proposed bus service on the first trains departing. In addition, BART staff will be available at the concourse level from 6:00 am to 7:00 am to provide additional information on the proposal and collect comments from riders at Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell and Civic Center Stations.

• On October 15, 2011 BART will conduct an on-board passenger survey to collect input on the proposal. The survey will take place on the trains whose service will be reduced or delayed, the first trains departing on Saturday morning.

The results of the survey data will be compiled and analyzed to determine if the proposal adequately addresses concerns of impacted riders. The public survey results will be presented to the Board on November 17, 2011. If approved the demonstration program will be implemented in February 2012 along with the proposed new bus service.

BART riders are encouraged to email feedback to service@bart.gov by October 31, 2011.