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SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Despite an expected influx of riders and some minor mechanical problems that caused regional delays last week, BART is fully prepared to increase services during the upcoming Labor Day weekend while both directions of the Bay Bridge are shut down for more than three days, officials said.
On Friday afternoon, BART trains were delayed for up to 30 minutes in the East Bay after a cover board that protects an electrical rail broke and trains were forced to operate on one track, BART spokesman Jim Allison said.
A separate switching problem between the San Francisco International Airport and the Millbrae BART station also delayed trains Friday afternoon. Trains traveling to Millbrae on the Dublin-Pleasanton line had to turn back at SFO and travelers were transferred to shuttles.
During this weekend’s Bay Bridge closure, BART plans to add more trains, as well as overnight service to 14 of its 43 stations. The transit agency does not know how many passengers are likely to use the system during the three-day holiday weekend, but there are 250,000 to 300,000 vehicles that cross the bridge connecting San Francisco to the East Bay each weekday, according to Caltrans, which oversees state highways.
BART is also expecting an influx of people Friday night, as a Beyoncé concert at Oracle Arena in Oakland and an Oakland A’s ballgame are expected to attract large crowds.
Since BART has known about the bridge closure for weeks, Allison said the system has had ample time to prepare and make sure the trains and tracks are in good shape.
“It’s just a matter of luck whether another cover board breaks, and we’ve always got crews on hand,” Allison said. “We’re confident we’re ready.”
Caltrans is closing both directions of the Bay Bridge from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, so workers can demolish a football-field-size portion of the upper deck and install a new seismically upgraded structure in its place.
The last time the Bay Bridge was entirely shut to traffic was after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. BART provided extended service for passengers for a month after the earthquake, Allison said.
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5:46 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 3, 2007 re: "Bay Bridge to reopen at 6 p.m. today"
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5:26 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 3, 2007
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3:41 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 3, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
We should keep on retainer CC Meyer and company. Why have we not heard about this on the national level? This is a marval to see that something can be completed ahead of schedule. Congrats CC Meyer and company. Other places across the country would want CC Meyer. First the Maze, now the partial section of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge and what is next? California should try to keep them.
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Examiner Reader said:
Too bad the bridge is opening early. It's been nice and quiet in SF this weekend. Parking was plentiful, every place was less crowded, the natural SF wildlife came out of hiding, the sun shined down warmer than ever, dogs and cats got along, and the City was a better place for just one weekend. Too bad we can't shut down all the bridges leading into the City one weekend a month.
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davey crockett said:
sfgate.com Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi helped capture two suspects in a Western Addition drive-by shooting Friday that left one man hospitalized, authorities said. The unidentified victim was shot three times at 9:45 a.m. when two men drove up and started firing at two men at Fulton and Steiner streets, police Sgt. Neville Gittens said. The two victims ran but were followed by the gunmen, who fired more shots at Grove and Steiner streets. Mirkarimi, who was jogging in the area, heard gunfire, reported what he saw to police and got into a patrol car to help officers find the suspects, authorities said. Two men were arrested later Friday. Did you hear that Chrissy Daly , Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi is active and gets involved in his community while you yell and scream. I can imagine you yelling and screaming during this ordeal as will... oh my god stop my gut hurts..lol carl glovier
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