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Published on January 14, 2025
Bay Area’s BART Joins Forces with 17 Entities to Boost Equity in Infrastructure OpportunitiesSource: Bay Area Rapid Transit

In a move aimed at fostering inclusivity and economic empowerment, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), along with 17 other entities, signed on to the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) Pledge in a ceremony held at the Milpitas Transit Center. BART's commitment, announced in BART's official news release, places them in a voluntary coalition of 92 members, promising to elevate Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) by enhancing their access to infrastructure contracting opportunities.

Hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the signing event is a step toward economic resilience, leveraging the collective hundreds of billions of dollars controlled by these agencies to foster community prosperity. As BART General Manager Bob Powers explained, as per BART News, by integrating HUBs into the mix, "BART can make a real impact to 50 communities," considering the scale of their current rebuilding projects. His sentiment reinforces the potential ripple effects of equitable contracting on local economies and communities.

The pledge obliges signatories to streamline administrative processes, improve transparency, and increase the availability of financing for HUBs, among other commitments. Equity and inclusivity are at the heart of this initiative, as multiple transit authorities and related organizations acknowledge the long-term value of diversifying perspectives in the infrastructure sector. Notably, Denver Water CEO Alan Salazar touted embracing core values and accountability as paramount.

BART General Manager Bob Powers is proud to augment the growing ranks of signatories, affirming their dedication to economic equality and the betterment of communities through strategic contracting opportunities, in the words of San Francisco International Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet, who also committed to elevating HUBs for a "more inclusive and equitable future for our region," as reported by BART News.