A major outage affecting the entire BART system on Friday morning was not due to aging equipment, according to the agency. The disruption, which lasted several hours, forced many commuters to seek alternative transportation methods across the Bay Area. Trains were halted until approximately 9:30 a.m. due to a computer networking issue. BART spokesperson Alicia Trost explained that the problem stemmed from two network devices within a redundant system that lacked proper connectivity. Crews resolved the issue by disconnecting the malfunctioning devices. This outage was the most significant system-wide disruption since 2019, when a failure in BART’s central train control system highlighted the need for upgrades. Although BART is currently working with Hitachi to replace its train control system, officials stated that this project was unrelated to Friday’s incident. The outage caused significant traffic congestion, particularly on the Bay Bridge, and prompted Muni, AC Transit, and the San Francisco Bay Ferry to provide additional services. Financial challenges continue to plague BART as it struggles to recover ridership post-pandemic. Without adequate funding, there could be severe consequences, including service cuts or even the elimination of weekend service. Advocates stress the importance of securing funding through measures like a potential 2026 sales tax ballot initiative.
— new from KQED
