Congresswoman Simon Secures Federal Funding for LED Lighting Upgrades in Nine BART Stations Across the East Bay
BERKELEY, CA – Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) recently secured $850,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF) for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). This funding will be used to install LED lighting in nine BART Stations throughout the district including: Coliseum, Downtown Berkeley, Fruitvale, Lake Merritt, MacArthur, Rockridge, San Leandro, North Berkeley and West Oakland. These lighting upgrades will not only improve rider experience and strengthen public safety at stations - they will also increase energy efficiency and light quality.
Today, the Congresswoman announced the funding with BART General Manager Robert “Bob” Powers and members of the BART Board of Directors at the Downtown Berkeley BART station. She also toured a number of the stations slated for lighting upgrades to discuss the planned work and upcoming lighting improvements.
This Community Project Funding (CPF) is a part of the $11.2 million dollars that Congresswoman Simon secured for 15 projects across the East Bay in Fiscal Year 2026. Each fiscal year, members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding requests for consideration with the House Committee on Appropriations. You can read about the 15 projects that Congresswoman Simon secured funding for in her first year here.
“As someone who was born congenitally blind and has been dependent on public transit my entire life – I know that accessible, reliable public transportation is non-negotiable,” said Congresswoman Simon. “During my time on the BART Board, I fought to make our public transit systems safer and improve the rider experience. Now in Congress, I am fighting hard to expand on that work and deliver for us. Every neighborhood deserves to have safe, bright stations, and I look forward to seeing the impact these lighting upgrades will have on both safety and energy efficiency across the East Bay.”
“The recent improvements at the Downtown Berkeley Station are examples of how we are relentlessly putting the needs of our riders first. Upgraded lighting makes our stations safer and more welcoming,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “We are so grateful for the efforts of Congressmember Simon who has been an incredible advocate in the nation’s capital for Bay Area transit.”
“BART completed a major lighting upgrade last spring here at Downtown Berkeley Station, replacing more than 2,200 aging fluorescent bulbs with brighter, more energy-efficient LED lighting,” said BART District 3 Director Barnali Ghosh, whose district includes Downtown Berkeley Station. “The new lighting makes our stations more welcoming, increases safety, and saves us money on energy and maintenance costs. Once completed this program will reduce energy use from station lighting by half.”
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