BART’s Next Generation Fare Gates Project is earning national recognition from two leading organizations. The American Public Works Association has named the initiative its 2026 Public Works Project of the Year, while the International Partnering Institute honored it as the 2026 Collaborative Project of the Year.
The agency completed the large-scale upgrade in August 2025, replacing 715 fare gates across all 50 stations spanning five Bay Area counties. The work was finished four months ahead of schedule.
According to BART Assistant General Manager for Infrastructure Delivery Sylvia Lamb, the new system is unlike anything used by other transit agencies. She credited the project’s success to a coordinated, agency-wide effort that involved multiple departments working together to install the new gates systemwide.
Early results show the new gates are making a measurable impact on the rider experience. Reports of fare evasion observed by passengers have dropped by more than 50 percent since installation began. Combined with an increased presence from BART Police, the upgrades have contributed to a 41 percent reduction in overall crime across the system.
Maintenance demands have also declined. In the first six months after installation was completed, crews spent 961 fewer hours addressing issues such as vandalism, graffiti, and damaged equipment inside stations.
Financially, BART estimates the gates are helping recover approximately $10 million annually by reducing fare evasion.
The new gates are designed with a reinforced locking mechanism and taller barrier system, creating a minimum height of 72 inches. The design makes it significantly more difficult for riders to push through, jump over, or crawl under the barriers, further strengthening system security and reliability.
I knew all the time that it was the fear of haters that were doing all the crime and destruction on BART! I thought all the time and it angered me. I paid my fair they do not and then they harass the rest of us- these lowlifes and homeless. And for a while the BART board was supporting the idez ofinner city kids and homeless to ride the trains for free thinking it was a good social justice gesture. Well that sure backfired when it caused a lot of us to stop riding bart! I give them credit now for correcting the problem and I’m back to riding Bart!
* I meant to say the fare-evaders.
( don’t you just love talk to text and autocorrect! )
Last time I rode a BART train (3 weeks ago), 2 people piled in behind me and shoved me through the gate so that they could get in without paying. This was at Pleasant Hill station, right in front of the agent who didn’t even bother looking up.
This just goes to show that groups will give awards for anything.
… should have been done decades ago ….. but I’d like to see the puff piece BART provided these agencies to toot their own horn
wonderful
..
Only too ’em 53 years