Melissa Hernandez, BART Board President: BART’s Future

BART Board President Melissa Hernandez, BART’s Future

https://www.bart.gov/about/bod/member/district5

A lifelong public servant, Hernandez represents District 5, which encompasses eastern Alameda County communities such as Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore. Her tenure on the BART board began in May 2024 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy, followed by a formal election victory in November 2024. Upon her election as board president in late 2025, she made history as the first Latina to ever lead the agency. 

Before joining BART, Hernandez established herself as a key political figure in the Tri-Valley region, serving as a council member for the City of Dublin for eight years and as its Mayor for four years until mid-2024. Her extensive background in regional transit includes previous roles as chair of the Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) and the Tri-Valley/San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority. 

In 2026, Hernandez is leading BART through a critical period marked by a projected $400 million budget deficit following the exhaustion of emergency pandemic-era funds. Her current priorities focus on securing long-term financial stability for the agency while enhancing system safety, cleanliness, and reliability for riders.