The SamTrans transit agency is partnering with San Mateo County Office of Education, to encourage artistic abilities for students during their annual arts contest - Art Takes a Bus Ride. The partnership annual arts contest is open to first graders up to twelve grade students within San Mateo County. The students interested with therein arts contest must turn their artwork in by Friday, April 3, 2020 - theme is "Ride for the Planet, Ride SamTrans". The competition artwork can be turned in to competing schools and/or San Mateo Office of Education in Redwood City.

The drivers grace period is coming to end on Friday, February 28, 2020 for SR237 (State Route 237) Express Lanes in South Bay. The VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) Express Lanes on SR237 was opened on November 2019, with a grace period for drivers to use it for free and awareness. The drivers using therein SR237 must have a FasTrak transponder device starting Friday, February 28, 2020 to avoid penalties. Including CAV (Clean Air Vehicle) cars using SR237 in South Bay with an eligibility decal - no more free rides.

The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) agency is consistently training police officers with fair and impartial policing training. The BART Police Department is hoping therein enhancement training for police officers will avoid any racial profiling. Including the review of BART demographic data to have an assessment of any racial disparities enforcement within the BART Police Department. The BART administration is also interested in GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) training for racial equity and awareness.

The state transportation department Caltrans will start their highway bridge inspection Monday, February 24, 2020. Because it was delayed for inspection equipment repairs and safety review of all inspection tools - initially scheduled for January 2020. Therefore, the Richmond/San Rafael bridge bicycle and pedestrian pathway will be closed for five hours during weekdays between 9 AM to 2 PM. The Caltrans inspection team will have therein bridge structural inspection assessment until Friday, March 13, 2020.

The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) agency data reports crime rate is 18% decrease in January 2020 versus January 2019 within San Francisco Bay Area. Including cell phone thefts showing a major decrease along with other elements for passengers safety. The BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez, shared his visionary action plan with Board of Directors on how to uphold workable safety measures to protect passengers. The improvement safety plan will include train teams of Ambassadors working closely with BART Police Officers.

The SFMTA (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency) recognizes two local transit superstars honoring Black History Month. The SFMTA recognizing Curtis Green and Welton Flynn as trailblazers with transportation leadership within San Francisco muni system. These two muni transit African American pioneers have put in place some of the effective operating programs for the muni transportation system during the 60's and 70's. They served on SFMTA muni leadership roles with efficient guardianship responsibilities of therein muni transit system.

The SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit) agency shared their data report showing 26% increase for ridership in North Bay during January 2020. The identified percentage increase of passengers ridership is during the same month from the previous year. The SMART data report shows 72,000 passengers traveled on the train in North Bay during January 2020, versus same month during last year. The SMART administration believes therein increasing number of ridership is because of new expended services and frequency scheduling.

The SFMTA (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency) is changing services for improvement on transporting passengers in West Bay effective Saturday, February 22, 2020. The muni service changes will create reliable services and making better connections for commuting passengers. The improvement changes will include early morning metro bus services during weekends for some routes. It will also improve onboard services for passengers to avoid overcrowding and increasing dependable muni services - bigger muni buses will be operating.

The VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) Board of Directors adopted a step forward to protect our local environment in South Bay. The board approved a Climate Emergency declaration approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on our roadways, and protecting local environments for our children and families. The VTA declaration is one of the first nationwide approach by any transit agency and aligned with their Climate Action Plan. The VTA administration is planning a Youth Summit to engage their youthful involvement to protect our environment.

The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) agency implements schedule changes to improve services throughout the Bay Area including East Bay. The BART scheduling changes for passengers was effective Monday, February 10, 2020 for commuters to become aware of new service changes. The new schedule changes will impact weekday and weekend services for improvement, and some service lines will start early and/or later. Including additional trains for weekend services in East Bay to make it easier and convenient for passengers.