BART to add rush hour trains serving San Francisco and Oakland

February 22, 2006

By Tamara Barak, Bay City News Service

With ridership on Bay Area Rapid Transit surging, officials are promising to add cars to rush hour trains serving downtown Oakland and San Francisco.

The extra trains will also shuttle travelers to the citys' airports.

"The is just one step, a big step though, in our commitment to make BART more customer friendly. Our goal is to reward our loyal riders and make our new riders feel welcome," BART Board President Carole Ward Allen said in a written statement.

BART officials say high gas costs and increased traffic have contributed to increased ridership.

"I think people are finding that BART is simply more economical than driving," said BART spokesman Linton Johnson. "When you consider that BART costs 20 cents per mile compared with driving for 69 cents per mile, you realize that BART is definitely the best buy in getting around the Bay Area."

Growth in BART ridership mirrors national trends, Johnson said. "Mass transit across the nation is increasing and BART is a microcosm of that," he said.

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