BART Victory Party
BART Innovation Team Celebrates Success at Headquarters After 2024 iyai+ Summer Innovation Challenge
On August 28th, the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Innovation Team known as Transit Together or as Linton Johnson would say, “the TOP intern team,” celebrated their participation in the 2024 iyai+ (Introducing Youth to American Infrastructure) Summer Innovation Challenge at BART Headquarters. The event was a culmination of months of hard work by the team as they sought to tackle the growing challenge of declining public transit ridership in the Bay Area.
Evening of Celebrations and Reflections
The evening began at 5:30 PM when the Transit Together team arrived at BART’s headquarters for snacks and mocktails. The casual start to the evening offered the team a chance to relax and reflect on their journey. At 6:00 PM, the team was formally welcomed by BART’s Deputy General Manager, Michael Jones, and iyai’s CEO, Dr. Beverly Scott, both of whom delivered remarks praising the team’s creativity, dedication, and potential to reshape public transit.
Addressing Public Transit Challenges
Following the opening remarks, the Transit Together team took the stage to present their findings on the critical issues facing public transportation, specifically focusing on BART ridership. Their research was driven by a survey that garnered 700 responses from current or former BART riders. The team revealed five key insights:
- 54% of respondents indicated that they now work from home, reducing the need for public transit.
- 32% of respondents cited safety concerns as a primary reason for avoiding transit.
Beyond these findings, the team identified several underlying challenges that discourage people from using BART:
- Complicated transit apps: Many riders found existing transit apps confusing and cumbersome to use.
- Disconnect with the community: The lack of integration between transit services and the surrounding neighborhoods made public transport less appealing.
- No incentive to use transit: Riders reported a lack of tangible rewards or incentives for opting to use public transit over other forms of transportation.
Innovative Solutions: A New App for Riders
In response to these issues, the Transit Together team developed an innovative app, inspired by their own personal experiences, expert feedback, and input from the community. Their app is designed to promote transit ridership by focusing on three main pillars:
- Safety: A central concern for many riders, the app integrates features to enhance the feeling of security while using transit.
- Discovery: The app encourages users to explore transit options in ways that are user-friendly and engaging.
- Rewards: To incentivize ridership, the app includes a reward system that makes choosing public transit more attractive.
The app also incorporates features commonly found in popular applications, ensuring ease of use for riders already familiar with similar interfaces. Additionally, it offers convenient access to news, updates, and even insights into what friends are doing, making public transit a more social and connected experience.
Celebratory Dinner
After the team’s presentation, dinner was served at 6:40 PM. The menu for the evening featured a comforting spread that included mac and cheese, turkey greens, cornbread muffins, and candied yams—capping off a successful event with a hearty meal.
Looking Forward
The celebration not only recognized the team’s accomplishments but also marked a new chapter for BART’s efforts to increase ridership and improve public transit services. The Transit Together team’s innovative app has the potential to reshape the way Bay Area residents engage with public transit, addressing critical barriers while promoting a safer, more rewarding experience.
As the team continues to refine their app and gather more community feedback, both BART and iyai+ are optimistic that this forward-thinking approach could serve as a model for public transit systems across the nation.
