Fare gates at BART’s Civic Center station were removed this week after a vandalism incident, according to an agency spokesperson.
The damaged fare gates near the Market and Eighth street exits have since been removed, forcing all riders through other gates next to a station agent’s booth. A temporary barrier remained in place of the damaged gates on Friday afternoon.
The gates were removed sometime between Wednesday and Thursday. BART did not specify when the damage was done or when the gates were removed.
“Somebody broke them,” BART spokesperson Christopher Filippi said. “I can’t speak to intent. But it doesn’t appear to be just a mechanical issue.”
BART riders hoping the removal was an indication that the transit agency’s new $47 million fare gates were coming soon will have to keep waiting.
“While the new design has not yet been finalized, the gates will have clear swing barriers that will be very difficult to be pushed through, jumped over, or maneuvered under,” a BART spokesperson said. “The overall fare gate array height (gate, console, integrated barrier) will form a tall barrier of 72 inches minimum to prevent fare evasion.”
BART said that riders should expect to see the new gates installed at the West Oakland Station by the end of 2023. The new gates are expected to be installed at all stations by 2026.