Brake-Slamming BART Turn In Oakland Is The Result Of An Old Political Favor

The sharp, brake-slamming BART turn beneath the streets of downtown Oakland is the result of a 1960s political favor that changed BART's original design. Wilson Walker reports. (5-7-2019)

[@ScottRuen]

and history repeats itself. not a day goes by that our elected officials don't scratch someone's back at our expense

[@craigheaps7520]

Mike Healy (BART) and Ron Wilson (SFO) were the two best spokespersons I ever dealt with during my 40-year career in TV news.

[@rattiegirl5]

My father worked on the plans of the BART tunnels. One of this areas that he worked on was that turn where the train always creaks. Given the limitations of where the tunnels could run, it was a challenge to design that turn.

[@ericriggsbee]

This is fascinating! I am watching this on my BART commute.

[@GiTxSHuM]

I always wonder why they go very slow to turn. Never thought this would be covered lol. Thanks. Should tell anyone who complains about the back story.

[@alanyu7732]

Turning fast at such a sharp angle can cause bad wear and tear for the tracks and possible derailment. So with such sharp turns, it is suggested that trains go slower. Also all lines pass by Oakland Wye to get to Lake Merritt, 12th St, or West Oakland, so it’s a safety measure to go slow to avoid collision.

[@rollinwithunclepete824]

From 30mph to >20mph for how long, 10 seconds, 30, 60 or more? Electric train have pretty acceleration. The greater problem is wheel flange/rail wear - probably the cause of the derailment shown in this piece.

[@sfmike711]

@Rollin With Uncle Pete : The derailment that you mention (at 0:52) was not due to flange/rail wear. It was a crash. A train coming from SF going to 12th Street had manual run orders with a run limit since a train was already going from Lake Merritt to 12th Street in automatic. The train from SF ran the limit and crashed into the train from Lake Merritt.

[@karamjeetkaur1474]

bart: *wants tunnel Oakland: no it goes under some hardware store bart: but then all of the trains will be going under 20 mph Oakland :TO BAD ITS GOING UNDER 9TH STREET

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Shame they did all of this and the hardware store is still gone. They should reopen it, maybe make it an ace hardware

[@Rubycon99]

The building is completely gone. It's apartments and a now abandoned buffet place.

[@paulnewsom7629]

Back when bart was built i Never Thought it would have So many People in Future on it ,I was born and Raised in Bay Area when it ,,Was a Great place to be 63 to 84 ,Moved Away in 2014 ,,They just have to many people in Bay Area an Natives most not All ,,Long Gone. ,,Thanks to Silcon Valley being built up and Rancid Air ,its best days are Long ,Long Gone since 84

[@yusefkhan1752]

Paul Newsom yeah it’s a shame the Bay Area was planned so stupidly. Whoever designed the bay is a total moron. It feels like the Philippines or India level infrastructure but 1/10th the people.

[@Milesco]

@ Paul : Sadly that's true. The air quality is actually pretty good, but everything else has gone to shit. ☹

[@joediver7669]

Air quality is infinitely better now than in 84 due to CARB emissions restrictions on cars and cleaner fuel.

[@joediver7669]

@@yusefkhan1752 Are you under the impression that one person designed the bay area?

[@jasonsummers7129]

I wanted to know “wye”

[@daryllect6659]

"wear"?

[@limegpt]

Why does it always slow down right before West Oakland coming from Embarcadero?

[@alanyu7732]

Thats because of the automatic control system that won’t let trains get too close to each other. A lot of trains pass by San Francisco, especially during rush hour. Trains will stop in the tunnel, usually because the train in front is occupying the platform or because it is too close.

[@daryllect6659]

Because the train is afraid...

[@taureanspiritualgoddess4449]

Bart makes miliions a Day. A DAY!!!. Prices go up every other year. There's no excuse for not having more trains, better railings, an all the problems it has every year. Where is the money going?

[@CalifornianSupremacy]

Ilana Ali It’s going towards increasing already sky high Employee Salaries and ballooning pensions.

[@taureanspiritualgoddess4449]

@@CalifornianSupremacy to do what hide in the break room all day am half clean? Bart bathrooms don't even put a roll of tissue in there with a real lock on the tissue they give u one square at a time. They disrespect their customers 24/7

[@jayjohn9680]

Low overhead is the tell tale mark of a corrupt system.

[@mikeplott292]

Should be called B.A.W.E. (Bay Area White Elephant) Always having problems -- they are behind the times when it comes to handling electrical problems and maintaining security. I remember the train slowing down and enduring that same screeching sound back in 1972!

[@mrrobot5963]

And I thought Toronto's transit issues were ridiculous

[@michaelboccino5251]

No One Drives the Train ' Its Computerized ' So When A Driver Has to Manually Drive the Train ' They Have Problems ' All the Motorman Does is Close the Doors '

[@jamalcole1985]

True. Can I get an Amen? lol

[@michaelboccino5251]

@@jamalcole1985 So Sad When I First Remember Bart Opening in the 70's If They Only Kept up With the System '

[@alanyu7732]

michael boccino Bart has been using automatic controls since it opened in 1972.

[@michaelboccino5251]

@@alanyu7732 I Know Built By Westinghouse Made in America '🇱🇷

[@kennethjeong8054]

The slow speed isn't so bad but its painfully loud from the screech.

[@slowpoke96Z28]

This is so cool to know.

[@beatpirate8]

That’s dumb. Why would you make a turn for a friend.

[@larailfan1714]

0:33- you missed saying that it is a new BART train and then you completely excluded the Pittsburgh/ Bay Point line. You really could do better KPIX 5

[@MrSquareart]

WOW!! could they ever fix it now???

[@MrSquareart]

@@onorebakasama true true maybe a new baby tunnel could fix it. I have only been on the BART once or twice.

[@SingleFosterDad]

what about when the train ran off the track

[@safeatthird6060]

wow.

[@brentduanefoster]

Wow, karma sometimes strikes fast.

[@TheCloakedTiger]

Tight turn for BART? Ummm. Yeah. That is called the Oakland Wye? 15MPH speed limits through there. That is why its slow... ... And also because of a lack of funding and investment toward transportation and politics... *BARF*

[@aubreyaubrey66699]

Bart needs more new trains, the old ones stink!

[@Cards8114]

They are being delivered by trucks as we speak

[@chicago-l9125]

Looks like this is one time "eminent domain" wasn't so eminent, at least in this case anyway.

[@grujber7342]

really they should dig a new tunnel

[@kevinhoward9593]

Oh come on now. people are complaining about a train turning 90 degrees? Newsflash, subways do it all over the world.

[@InsaneFirebat]

You all have to sift through road signs in multiple languages? lol no wonder you need automated cars over there.

[@yungsammysosa6201]

Sad part they are all laughing at this stupid s***

[@whiteclifffl]

Nice virtue signaling with your stupid rainbow eye logo, KPIX. So much for objective journalism.

[@horny99845]

A tree is the reason why the BMT Broadway make a sharp left turn at 8th street

[@JackSmack999]

sharp left turn... thats where most of the bay area's problems come from.

[@whiteclifffl]

home dreams Great comment. And SO true!!