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Each and every workday, 350 thousand would-be road warriors here in the Bay Area opt out
of their cars and onto BART.
Why?
"Convenience, no traffic commute. I really like that part of it."
"The cost of driving verses taking BART. It's a lot less."
"When the traffic is clogged up, BART is still moving. Itís always on the move"
On the move... on five lines and to 43 stations... with amazing precision.
Train operator David Brown prides himself on his contribution to an on-time performance
rating that often tops 95%.
David Brown/BART Train Operator: "I like the responsibility. Getting up, being responsible
for my train, making sure it runs properly, getting people to work on time. I like that
responsibility."
So do David's bosses.
Keeping trains on time is a top-down goal of the agency.
Every employee knows it, appreciates it, and strives for it.
Paula Fraser/Manager of Operations Control Center: "The most trains we have running at
one time is 62 and at peak commute we donít want one train 5 minutes late. We want to
rate the commute excellent with 62 trains. Itís quite the challenge."
Some days Ömore than others.
Here, in this seldom seen, highly computerized bunker known as the Operations Control Center
- youíll find the brains behind the trains. And in here, only two things supercede the
commitment to on-time service:
One is SafetyÖ.
Paula Fraser/Manager of Operations Control Center: "Itís the number one thing we look
out for, is the safety of the equipment and employees but the patrons. Itís the biggest
goal that we have each day. And itís the one thing we all check each other for. "
And the other is Security.
Paula Fraser/Manager of Operations Control Center: "We see a lot from here."
Not just a lot.
Almost everything.
Cameras just about everywhere.
They're designed to keep a watchful eye over riders.
But thatís just the beginning.
Jason Ledford/BART Police Department: "The dogs are out there. Weíre working hard weíre
being visible. Weíre being a deterrentì
Add in BART's 200-some police officers, including a specially trained k9 unit, and youíve got
one of the most secure transitsystems in the country.
One determined to prevent disaster.
Jason Ledford/BART Police Department: " In light of recent terrorist events like Moscow,
the 38 people died on the train, and Madrid Spain, mass transit is a target unfortunately.
And so weíre out here everyday trying to keep everyone safe with our
explosive detection dogs and our main goal is to make sure all of our patrons have a
safe ride."
Among them: Darrel Steinberg - President Pro Tem of the California State Senate.
Darrel Steinberg/President Pro Tem of the California State Senate:" I often do the Amtrak
- BART combination. Take the train down to transfer at the Richmond multi-modal station
and to take bart in to catch the Giants or the Aís. It is just a really easy and wonderful
way to travel."
But his interest goes beyond the recreational.
BART carries more than 100 million riders to work every year - more than double that
of any other rail line in the state. The economic impact is both tax dollars and Bay Area job
growth is undeniable.
Darrel Steinberg/President Pro Tem of the California State Senate: " Transit is not
a luxury, itís an essential quality of life investment for our environment, for economic
development b/c itís how so many people get to work. And itís about a healthy
community in making sure we arenít clogging and polluting our roads. Thereís no smarter
investment."
Commuters in the financial district agree. With 35 thousand daily riders, they've made
the..
"Embarcadero."
"Embarcadero."
"Embarcadero."
Öthe busiest station in the system.
Perhaps the most appreciated though, is the stop inside San Francisco's International
Airport.
"Itís cheaper than a taxi or the shuttles, the convenience is great, it comes straight
to the international terminal and I love that!"
The next two stations due to come online: West Dublin/ Pleasanton and, in Fremont, Warm
Springs, another step to bringing BART to the Silicon Valley.
WHERE THERE'S CONSTRUCTION, THERE'S JOBS. IN FACT, 2000 Federal Stimulus funds will
help BART create 2000 new jobs here in the Bay Area.
BART DEVELOPEs THESE PROJECTS BY holding meetings to seek out neighborhood input. Of particular
importance: is the voice of the underserved communities.
Jaun Campos/Richmond Resident: "Itís very important to attend this kind of event,because
it helps keep the community informed to whatís going on around us."
BART doesnít just keep communities informed, it keeps them clean.Its trains are 100% electric,
with most of that power coming from clean, hydroelectric or renewable energy sources
like wind-power.
"Yes,itís really green. No pollution or anything. Itís beautiful."
How beautiful?
Arnold Schwarzenegger/Former Governor of California:
"Bart is also a partner in the fight against global warming. The system saves us from burning
1million gallons of gas each week and it keeps 15.4 million pounds of pollution out of the
air in the daily commute."
All, because hundreds of thousands of Bay Area commuters choose the train.... over traffic.
Thatís music to the ears of train operator David Brown and everyone at BART. Their message
to you: "Keep on Riding!"