BART Rolls Out Automatic Fare Gates to Combat Fare Evasion

BART will begin rolling out new automatic fare gates this summer in a push to reduce fare evasion and modernize its aging infrastructure. The project, which starts in July, will eventually replace all 700 fare gates across the system with a new design that incorporates tall, transparent barriers and automated swing gates.

The agency awarded a $90 million contract to the Pittsburgh company Stanley Access Technologies to build and install the gates. BART officials say the new system will make it more difficult for riders to jump over or push through the barriers without paying. The agency estimates that fare evasion cost roughly $25 million in lost revenue last year.

Each new gate will consist of glass doors over five feet high that open only after a valid ticket, Clipper card, or mobile payment is detected. An initial pilot program installed prototypes at West Oakland Station in 2023. BART spokesperson Alicia Trost said the data collected from that trial helped refine the final gate design.

The West Oakland gates were effective enough that staff saw a significant drop in fare evasion at that station. Officials used feedback from riders and station agents to improve reliability and speed of the new hardware. For example, the final gates will include faster sensors and updated software to reduce wait times and card-reading errors.

The system-wide installation will begin at West Oakland and Fruitvale stations. Construction will then move to the downtown San Francisco stations, which see the heaviest rider traffic. Crews are expected to replace all gates by the end of 2025.

BART has struggled with fare evasion for years. In a 2022 survey, over 10 percent of riders admitted to not paying for trips. The agency launched fare inspectors in response, but enforcement has had limited reach across the 50-station system. The new automatic gates are now seen as a central component of the agency’s long-term approach.

BART General Manager Bob Powers said the changes also speak to broader rider concerns. “People want a system that works well, feels safe, and is respected,” he said at a recent board meeting. “Installing modern gates that don’t invite bad behavior is part of that.”

The project is funded through a mix of federal grants and state transit dollars approved during the pandemic. BART has warned of deep structural deficits unless ridership returns to pre-COVID levels. Improving revenue capture from the existing base of riders is seen as critical to long-term recovery.

As installation begins, BART says it will post clear signage at stations and provide ambassadors to help passengers adjust. A system-wide update to the Clipper card reader software is also underway to ensure compatibility with mobile payment.

BART expects the new gates to not only cut down on lost revenue, but also improve the overall experience for paying riders. The next test of the system’s impact will come as installation expands to high-volume stations later this year.