High Wind Advisory on Bay Bridge and BART Yellow Line Delays This Thursday

Commute Overview for Thursday, February 19, 2026

Oakland commuters should prepare for a mix of weather-related cautions and scheduled transit adjustments this morning. While major arteries remain open, high winds on the Bay Bridge and late-night rail work on the BART system are the primary headlines for today’s travel. Drivers and transit riders are encouraged to allow extra time, particularly those heading into San Francisco or using the Yellow Line late this evening.

Bay Bridge and Highway Conditions

Caltrans has issued a high wind advisory for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (I-80) as of early this morning. Travel is currently not recommended for high-profile vehicles, including campers, trailers, and permit loads. Motorists in standard passenger vehicles should maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel and be prepared for sudden gusts when crossing the span.

Additionally, early-stage construction activities for the Oakland Alameda Access Project are now visible near the Webster Tube. While major lane closures are currently being shifted to overnight hours to mitigate peak-hour congestion, commuters should look out for construction staging and workers near the tunnel entrances. In the Laurel district, construction at Laurel Street and Foothill Boulevard continues to impact local flow, with detours remaining in place through March.

BART Service and Clipper Upgrades

BART riders should be aware of several service advisories in effect today:

• Yellow Line Single Tracking: Starting late tonight (Feb 19), BART will begin rail work on the Yellow Line in Contra Costa County. Riders traveling late should expect minor delays as trains transition to a single track.
• SFO/Millbrae Delays: The ongoing train control modernization project continues to cause 30-minute delays after 9:00 PM on the line between Millbrae and SFO.
• Clipper Card Protocol: Due to system-wide upgrades, riders adding funds at station vending machines must hold their card against the reader for the duration of the transaction rather than tapping it.

AC Transit Adjustments

The AC Transit "Realign" network changes remain a significant factor for bus commuters. Notable service notes for today include:

• Line 12 & 27: The stop at The Alameda and Hopkins Street is closed daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM due to construction. This closure is expected to last through February 25.
• Line 1T (Tempo): The northbound Uptown Oakland station on Broadway has moved to the north side of 19th Street.
• Line 19: This line now terminates at Fruitvale BART and no longer serves Seminary Avenue at San Leandro Street.
• All-Nighter Line 800: The final eastbound trip from San Francisco now terminates in Downtown Oakland instead of Richmond.

Commuters are advised to check the official transit apps for real-time departure data, as minor schedule adjustments have been applied across most local routes this month to account for changing I-80 traffic patterns.