BART’s October Sunday ridership exceeds October 2019 levels

By Walnut Creek Record staff · November 13, 2026 · 1 min read

A BART train departing an elevated station platform under a blue sky. — BART’s reported increase in Sunday ridership describes the system as a whole; its announcement did not provide separate figures for Walnut Creek station. Courtesy: Wikimedia-Pi.1415926535 (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

BART's Sunday ridership has climbed past pre-pandemic numbers for the first time.

Average Sunday ridership in October reached 111,000 trips, topping the 108,000 recorded in October 2019, according to a post on X sharing results from a BART board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12.

The milestone matters for Walnut Creek riders who depend on weekend BART service for trips to San Francisco, Oakland and other destinations along the system.

Friday ridership also showed strong gains. BART reported that Fridays posted their largest year-over-year jump yet last quarter, rising 20%.

Weekday ridership, particularly on Fridays, has been a closely watched measure of the system's financial recovery. BART has struggled to rebuild fare revenue since the pandemic hollowed out commute-hour trains.

The board meeting results did not specify ridership figures for individual stations, including Walnut Creek.

Mariana Figueiredo

News Producer

Mariana Figueiredo is an editorial leader focused on producing accurate, community-centered journalism that keeps readers informed about the issues shaping their neighborhoods. She earned a bachelor's degree in Entertainment and Media Studies from the University of Georgia.

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