Work to install next generation fare gates at the Richmond BART station is scheduled to begin in September.
BART is installing the fare gates systemwide after piloting them at the West Oakland station starting December 2023. Twelve additional stations are set to begin installation of the new fare gates at the end of this year. The installation is ongoing at Civic Center Station, and it just started up at Fruitvale Station on Aug. 13.
The new fare gates are expected to be operating systemwide by the end of 2025. They aim to reduce fare evasion and enhance access for people in wheelchairs or those with bikes and strollers. They are also more reliable and easier to maintain, the transit agency said.
BART has over 700 fare gates across its stations, and the current ones are over 20 years old. They feature a mechanical lock that makes it very difficult to push open the barrier doors without paying. The door barriers are stainless steel frame with a polycarbonate panel.
