BART elects new board leaders
Retired Oakland Fire Chief John McPartland, voted the new board president, plans to tackle challenges ranging from earthquake safety to service extensions. Tom Radulovich, currently vice chairperson of BART’s Planning, Public Affairs, Access and Legislation Committee, was voted the board VP.
Retired Oakland Fire Department Battalion Fire Chief John McPartland was voted the new Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Board president, an opportunity he says he’s fired up about as he aims to tackle challenges ranging from earthquake safety to extensions of BART service.
McPartland thanked outgoing President Bob Franklin for “setting a high water mark in transparency and responsiveness to the public and press.”
Among McPartland’s goals are re-investment in BART’s core system and its "Fleet of the Future," extending BART service (including the BART to Livermore extension) and offering greater support for active duty military personnel and veterans.
McPartland served as board VP from Dec. 16, 2010 until Dec. 19, 2011. In 2008, voters elected McPartland to represent District #5 in Alameda County.
Before joining the board, McPartland was a BART safety specialist for six years. He retired from the Oakland Fire Department after 25 years as a chief officer. Visit www.bart.gov/board for more information.
The board also unanimously elected Director Tom Radulovich as the board VP. Radulovich was first elected to the BART board of directors in November 1996. He represents the 9th District in San Francisco.
Radulovich is currently vice chairperson of BART’s Planning, Public Affairs, Access and Legislation Committee. He serves as vice chairperson of the Regional Rail Committee and alternate for the Americans with Disabilities Act Liaison Committee. He is a member of the Joint Development Liaison and San Francisco Transportation Authority Liaison Committees.
More Rail
Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling
The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
Read More →
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.
Read More →
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →