BART is covering the full cost of Aira video interpreter calls for blind and low-vision riders through a pilot that began Oct. 6 and runs to Jan. 3, 2027. Riverside Transit Agency has launched a parallel accessibility tool, Convo Access, a live American Sign Language interpretation service now available on its buses and at its facilities.

The two California agencies have each added digital interpretation services to their rider-facing toolkits, targeting different disability groups: BART's pilot serves blind and low-vision customers, while RTA's service addresses deaf and hard-of-hearing riders.

How does the BART Aira pilot work?

Aira connects users with live, professionally trained visual interpreters through a video call on the free Aira Explorer smartphone app. Using a rider's phone camera, interpreters can describe surroundings, read signs and text, and help with tasks such as finding a station entrance, locating fare gates and ticket vending machines, and identifying the correct platform and train.

"Blind and low vision riders have told us that navigating to and through our stations can be a real challenge, especially finding fare gates and other key features," BART Customer Access and Accessibility Director Ryan Greene-Roesel said. "This pilot gives us a chance to test whether a live, on-demand interpreter can make those everyday trips easier."

Aira normally charges users by the minute. During the pilot, BART will cover the cost of any call related to a BART trip — from a rider's front door to their destination. Riders do not need to be inside a station to use the service, and it works anywhere in the BART system.

The setup sequence is brief:

• Download the free Aira Explorer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• Create an account and grant permissions for camera, microphone and GPS location.
• Tap "Browse Access Offers" on the home screen, type "BART" in the search bar, and apply the offer to the next call.
• Tap "Call an AIRA agent" when ready; a live visual interpreter answers in 10 to 15 seconds.

Interpreters will receive basic training on the BART system and will have access to BART's website and mobile app to answer rider questions. The service runs 24/7 throughout the pilot.

What happens after the pilot ends?

BART will gather user feedback and review usage data to evaluate how riders use the service, what they find most helpful, and whether the agency should seek funding to offer live interpretation permanently. The pilot itself carries no published cost figure or target rider numbers; BART has framed the evaluation criteria in qualitative terms.

What does Convo Access offer RTA riders?

Convo Access lets deaf and hard-of-hearing riders reach a live ASL interpreter in real time on their smartphone. Riders scan a QR code displayed on any RTA bus or at an RTA facility, connect instantly with an interpreter, and communicate with an RTA employee through that interpreter.

RTA requires no appointments, special equipment or advance scheduling.

The agency pointed to U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data showing approximately three out of every 100 Riverside County residents report having a hearing difficulty — the population the service is designed to reach.

Both agencies will now test whether on-demand interpretation can close long-standing accessibility gaps at station and bus level, with BART's go/no-go decision on permanent funding expected once the pilot's usage data comes in after January 2027.