BART Fare Gates Linked to Decline in Crime, Safety Delays

9/9/2026

Press conference with BART General Manager Bob Powers, BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin, BART Assistant General Manager of Infrastructure Joy Sharma, and Bay Area Council President and CEO Libby Schaaf.
BART press conference photo: BART General Manager Bob Powers, BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin, BART Assistant General Manager of Infrastructure Joy Sharma, and Bay Area Council President and CEO Libby Schaaf.

One year after Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) completed installation of its Next Generation Fare Gates at all 50 stations, the agency is reporting significant improvements in rider safety, reliability, and fare compliance.

According to BART, crimes against riders per million trips have fallen 67 percent from the end of 2024 to the latest quarter, even as ridership has increased. Over the same period, BART Police and safety-related delays dropped 47 percent, reflecting fewer reported incidents requiring police response.

Two line charts show "Safety Gains with New Fare Gates." Crimes per 1M passengers have fallen from 8 in FY25, Q2 when new gates were installed at 15 stations to 5 in FY 26, Q1 with new gates at 50 stations. During the same periods, Train delays due to policy and security declined from over 1,500 to less than 1,500.

“The new fare gates are at the core of what I call the ‘New BART.’ We are offering our riders a safer, cleaner, and more reliable experience than even just a year ago,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers.

Riders also are reporting fewer instances of fare evasion. BART said the share of riders who reported witnessing fare evasion during their trips is down 60 percent. The agency estimates the gates are helping generate approximately $10 million annually in recovered revenue through reduced fare evasion.

“New gates and our high-visibility patrols on trains and in stations are providing layers of security for our riders,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “As reports of fare evasion drop, it frees up members of my team to respond more rapidly to emergencies in the system.”

BART completed installation of the new gates several months ahead of its original deadline to have them fully installed by the end of 2025. The system features clear swing barriers that form a minimum 72-inch-tall barrier designed to deter people from pushing through, jumping over, or crawling under the gates.

The agency also is testing additional improvements to strengthen the fare gates against repeated impacts and vandalism. Gates outfitted with an advanced motor gear system to withstand impacts of approximately 926 pounds are being piloted at two stations.