SF BART Upgrades Power to Keep Riders Moving

BART completes $18.5M power substation upgrade at Daly City Station after three years

BART Completes $18.5M Daly City Power Substation

BART finished a new $18.5 million power substation at Daly City Station, one of the system's busiest stops serving about 15,000 riders daily. Robert Powers, General Manager, said the project enhances electrical infrastructure to support reliable service for decades. The three-year construction effort, completed in June, modernizes aging systems at the station that's been operating since 1972.

Modernizing Half-Century Infrastructure

The substation upgrade addresses infrastructure that's served riders for over 50 years, according to transit officials. Daly City Station opened in 1972 as the southern terminus of the original BART system. Ed Alvarez, Board President, told reporters infrastructure projects like this may not be visible to riders but are essential to keeping BART running smoothly. The work's part of broader modernization efforts funded through the agency's capital improvement program, though officials didn't break down specific funding sources between federal, state and local contributions.

Redundant Power Supply Boosts Reliability

The new substation provides redundant power supply to prevent service disruptions at one of the system's most heavily trafficked locations. Officials said the upgrade modernizes electrical systems to meet current and future demand as ridership recovers from pandemic lows. BART's system-wide weekday ridership reached about 400,000 in 2024, compared to pre-pandemic levels of 423,000 in 2019. Technical specifications of the substation's voltage capacity and power output weren't publicly disclosed.

Three-Year Construction Timeline

Construction began in 2022 and wrapped up this June when the substation was energized, officials confirmed. The agency didn't identify the contractors involved in the project or provide details about construction milestones during the three-year timeline. Powers said the investment demonstrates BART's commitment to proactively upgrading electrical systems to ensure safe, reliable service.

Supporting Bay Area Transit Needs

The infrastructure upgrade supports BART's ability to serve growing transportation demand across the five-county Bay Area system. Officials said the modernization effort prepares the network for future growth while maintaining service reliability for current riders. Riders can track real-time service information and plan trips using tools like Moovit, which provides updates for BART routes throughout the system.