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The Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, officially turned half a century old on September 11, 2022, and its momentous birthday came with plenty of adoration, jubilee, and transportation-centered celebrations.

Since its unveiling in 1972, BART has been a fundamental asset to the commuters of the Bay Area from Millbrae to Milpitas, Antioch, and more, providing 50 stations to easily navigate around every day. Several fans of the iconic blue and white metro cars came out to Lake Merritt to see it approach this historical milestone, and we're taking a look back to how this humming train came to be so vital in our community.

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The necessity of BART first arose in 1946, when the post-war economy raised a need to alleviate congestion on the Bay Bridge. A transbay tunnel just for a light rail was proposed to link the land underwater, and in August of 1969 the tube was complete, along with other vital tunnels underneath Market Street.

Opening day for the metro came on September 11, 1972, with a route from Fremont to Oakland spanning 28 miles, 12 stations, and 100,000 passengers among eight trains with two and three cars each.

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September 27th of the same year then saw President Nixon board this gloriously new system, which only continued to tremendously expand quickly in the following years. Embarcadero Station officially opened in 1976, the Dublin/Pleasanton line in 1997, and most recently in 2020 inclusive southern stations down in both Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose.

In 2018, the Fleet of the Future trains were introduced, providing more modern and sleek metro cars that are fashionable, high-tech, and quieter, providing an even more efficient and comfortable riding experience that rivals some of the world's most futuristic rail cars.

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Every day around 400,000 Bay Area residents rely on BART for their commute to work, providing a method of transportation that's both crucial and uniquely special to our geography. With the onset of COVID in 2020, ridership saw an 85% decrease, though in that time since BART has been diligently busy with repairs and improvements that have been greatly appreciated with loyal passengers now surging back following safety protocols.

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On its 50th birthday, Lake Merritt Station was brimming with fans lauding its dependability, perseverance, and comeback, partying with a BART-themed cake, photo ops with interactive segments of the train and lines, a joyous "Happy Birthday" singing, and even an appearance by its controversally-uncanny Thomas the Train-like mascot.

The 30 year time capsule was also unearthed and opened, which was then followed by the creation of a second larger one to be buried in the Oakland lake for a future reflective ceremony.

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It was a Sunday filled with merriment, honor, and genuine appreciation for this key defining feature, for many community residents and riders alike could not imagine a Bay Area without the speedy blue and white trains, its elevated platforms with colorful gates, and its unforgettably endearing screech.

See the full timeline of BART's storied history here, as well as this thorough literature detailing its fruition including even Emperor Norton's 1872 ideas.

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