BART says year-over-year ridership rose 13.5% in December

BART ridership in December rose 13.5% in the latest year versus the previous year, the public transit system said Friday.

BART said the gains reflected “the New BART experience,” propelled in part by a new generation of fare gates, more spacious train cars and other efforts to bring riders back after a massive decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While most riders have returned to BART, they are riding less frequently, resulting in fewer trips,” BART said in a statement. “The Bay Area has the highest work-from-home rates in the nation, and BART ridership closely mirrors office occupancy.”

Weekend ridership increased in December, rising 23% on Saturdays and nearly 13% on Sundays, as more people used the system for leisure, airport and non-work travel, BART said.

Ridership at San Francisco International Airport increased 14% compared with December 2024, BART said.

Closing time? Blackhawk Plaza faces foreclosure amid increasing vacanciesJanuary 21, 2026 7:10 am

Pleasanton police arrest driver suspected of causing multi-car crash on Bernal AvenueJanuary 23, 2026 8:29 am

Saving their stories: Book on bygone Pleasanton becomes godsend for high school journalismJanuary 22, 2026 2:51 pm