Candidate for
Director; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; District 8

Making BART more environmentally friendly

BART has the most bike friendly policy in the U.S. and continues to add more secure bike parking and lockers at BART stations.

With the majority of its power coming from hydroelectric sources, BART is powered by one of the most environmentally friendly sources in the United States. BART is also a member of Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) and its Green Pool, where members of NCPA join forces to collectively purchase renewable sources of energy.

BART is utilizing environmentally friendly and cost effective solar power at the Hayward and Richmond stations. We will be installing new solar panels at in Union City and Lafayette.

Making BART more efficient and transparent

James helped make BART the top Bay Area transit agency by doubling ridership and being 95% on time.

Over 50 percent of riders pay their fares electronically with a Clipper card, making trips more seamless and efficient.

BART's website has won an international award for being the Best Government Website. There are over 3 million visits each month on the BART website.

Thanks to a collaboration with Google Transit, riders can now see real time departures and service advisories making BART more efficient.

BART's Board is now even more transparent with eight new oversight committees giving the public direct involvement and input with helping to improve BART.

Live web streaming and evening meetings of the BART Board are making the Board more accessible and transparent to the public.

BART has implemented a Citizen's Review Board to oversee complaints of the BART Police Department. This independent advisory Board will investigate and review policies and incidents of the BART Police Department making the department more responsive to the community. The BART Police have now shifted to Community Oriented Policing to enhance relationships with the public.

Responding to riders, BART is taking a leadership role by leading and financing a new late night service after BART trains stop running on Friday and Saturday nights to provide the public with more late night transportation options.

Improving Safety

BART launched a new GPS-enabled smart photo application with a silent photo and flash free option so riders can report crimes without attracting unwanted attention. This application is available in Spanish and Chinese too.

BART can now issue prohibition orders against anyone who commits certain offenses on BART property, and depending on the offense, they can be banned from BART for a period time.

A new seismic program has been launched to upgrade vulnerable portions of the original BART system to ensure safety for the public and BART employees. The latest seismic standards will be used to improve the structural integrity of BART facilities.

Increasing Community Participation and Diversity

For the past decade, the BART Board and employees have hosted an annual winter toy drive collecting toys for families in need.

On weekends, numerous vacant BART parking lots are transformed into Farmer's Markets and Off the Grid food truck events, helping to support local farmers and businesses.

BART worked in conjunction with the Ed Roberts Campus at Ashby BART Station to build and offer a center for independent living at a convenient, fully accessible, transit oriented location. The Ed Roberts Campus is a nonprofit (501c3) corporation that has been formed by disability organizations. The new facility houses the offices of the collaborating organizations as well as fully accessible meeting rooms, a computer/media resource center, a fitness center, a cafe, and a child development center.

BART was named Employer of the Year by the Women's Transportation Seminar honoring BART's commitment to protecting the environment, hiring a diverse workforce and supporting education programs and professional training for existing employees.

BART's Leadership Team represents a diverse group of people, including the first two women General Managers in BART history.