BART Celebrates Engineers Week; Recognizes Four Projects
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
BART
SAN FRANCISCO - Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) celebrates Engineers Week by recognizing its 180+ engineers.
The theme of this year’s Engineers Week is Design Your Future – “both a call to action and a celebration of the limitless possibilities in engineering,” says DiscoverE. From February 16th to 22nd, the annual event celebrates engineers and their work and was established more than 70 years ago.
BART says its engineers provide “a roadmap for the fast-approaching horizon, reshaping how we experience and interact with our world.” Its engineers work in several disciplines including “construction, computer systems, electrical, mechanical, traction power, corrosion, and more.”
For 2025, BART says its engineers aren’t just working to “Design the Future,” but to work on implementing that design. As a result and to celebrate their work, BART placed special emphasis on several of the projects for 2025.
Next Generation Fare Gates Project
This project seeks to install new fare gates systemwide to improve both the customer experience and safety. The gates will “bring a new look and improved experience, offering state-of-the-art technology that will boost safety by reducing fare evasion, enhancing access for people in wheelchairs and those who bring bikes and strollers on BART, and optimizing the reliability and maintenance needs of the fare gates.”
Senior Manager of Engineering Programs Michael Gerbracht said, “Creating an environment where passengers feel safe, comfortable, and are happy to ride our trains is crucial. The fare gates are something that riders from across the Bay Area have been excited to see implemented for years, and it is great to be able to deliver for them. I am so proud of the way the team – and really the entire District – has stepped up to the challenge of delivering the new fare gates.”
Manager of Computer Systems Engineering John Yen said, “The part I am personally proud of is our staff’s ability to stay flexible and adapt to changing project conditions and project complexity. There are a lot of varying site conditions and prep work by multiple disciplines (electrical, communications, buildings, etc.) before the new fare gates can be installed. This project effectively is rolling three projects into one!”
San Francisco Station Escalator and Canopy Project
According to BART, these called for the construction of 19 canopies over BART station entrances and new escalators at Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center Stations. The canopies protect the new escalators from the elements and allow entrances “to be locked at street level when stations are closed.” As of reporting, three canopies are currently under construction with four more canopies planned for the future. At the same time, 45 escalators will be replaced at different Downtown San Francisco stations.
Project Manager for the Market Street Canopies Project David Silva said, “In addition to providing weather protection for patrons and escalators, the canopies assist with placemaking, providing easily recognizable entrances to the stations. They also feature real-time displays to provide patrons with train and bus schedule information as well as security features such as improved lighting, cameras, and grilles that secure the entrances at street level at night. This project requires an enormous amount of coordination. I am very proud of how the entire project team has come together with the invaluable assistance of BART Government and Community Relations to keep the community, including neighboring businesses, rideshare companies, and other stakeholders informed about the project while working to understand and address their concerns.”
Elliott Kolto, Principal Mechanical Engineer said, “To date, the project has successfully completed the replacement of 17 escalators, with 24 remaining and three to six undergoing replacement at any given time. The new escalators are more modern and reliable with updated safety features, technology, and maintainability. I am proud to be a part of this project and work with the team of engineers, maintenance, project management, and construction management, who are working so hard together to make this project successful and improve the customer experience.”
Traction Power Substation Restoration and Construction
Incoming power from PG&E is converted to 1,000 volts (V) Direct Current (DC) power for BART’s third rail by traction power facilities. BART states these facilities “also monitor, regulate, and ensure safe distribution of power throughout the system.” Located by Civic Center and Montgomery St. Stations, two new power substations will be online in 2025 with another substation located east of Transbay Tube undergoing a full renovation. Other substations, including the Oakland facilities, will also receive upgrades and restoration.
Principal Electrical Engineer Gordon Wong said, “The restoration of Downtown Oakland’s KTT substation, which failed last year after experiencing a fault, allows trains to operate at full speed, reducing delay and transfer times at MacArthur and 19th Street Station. Having the substation back in service allows for redundancy in the network; there are now multiple substations able to supply power to the area, meaning customers will have a faster, more streamlined experience. I am proud to work with the dedicated members of engineering and maintenance, who share the common goal of making sure BART is working for those who rely on us.”
East Bay Rail Replacement
Via funding through Measure RR, BART is replacing track as part of rebuilding projects. The infrastructure being replaced has outlived its design life and is in need of replacement.
Senior Manager of Engineering Programs Girish Koli said, “I am proud to be part of this project as it improves safety for BART staff and reduces the maintenance burden. It will also enhance customer experience by providing patrons with a smoother and quieter ride. This project was added to my portfolio last year, and I’ve been amazed to see how much hard work, coordination, and dedication many staff members have devoted to ensuring this is a successful project for BART.”
Division Manager Traction Power Engineering (Interim) Zeeshan Ali said, “Traction Power Engineering recently completed several projects that significantly enhance the reliability and safety of BART’s electrical infrastructure. These upgrades offer a more dependable, faster, and safer transit experience for riders across the Bay Area. I am proud of myself and my team for the contributions we’ve made and continue to make in connecting Bay Area communities.”
