SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Transit/Transportation News

[fflint]

Originally Posted by CityKid

I'm loving these updates to Muni! All-door boarding? Signal priority? I don't know if it's because of the entrance of Ed Reiskin or Ed Lee or the departure of Nathaniel Ford or Gavin Newsom or just the culmination of a lot of projects, but I'm all for it. Hopefully by the time I move back to SF, Muni will be more reliable.

Reiskin probably has more to do with this than any other individual, but it should be noted this isn't one guy--these improvements were recommended in the epic Transit Effectiveness Project from a few years ago. San Francisco hates reform, and traditionally favors the private automobile over all other modes, but I think Muni has finally realized they're going to die if they don't improve. The TEP is a well-supported approach to a more efficient, more effective Muni.

When I was younger, Muni Metro used to melt down fairly regularly, and when I (and my boss) complained about Muni's unreliability and snail's pace, the compromised elders just laughed. They literally dared me to find a way to get around without Muni. Then came the bicycle revolution--tens of thousands of able-bodied San Franciscans who eschew Muni for bikes--and all of a sudden, the calcified ancients aren't laughing and we're looking at the most significant transit reformation in a generation.

[CyberEric]

Signal priority!!! That is fantastic news!!!

Thanks for the head's up.

[M II A II R II K]

A Possible Future: What a Comprehensive Regional Transit System Might Look Like.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/design/2012/03/fantasy-transit-map-san-francisco/1548/

[ardecila]

Wow... virtually no BART expansion in SF, but one (two?) more Transbay Tunnels and some kind of RER-ization on Caltrain/Capitol Corridor/ACE?

[peanut gallery]

You know, for the moment I'd be happy with a unified map of what exists today and an integrated fare system with which to ride it. Clipper certainly helps but you're still paying every individual system a separate fare, making some trips pretty expensive. Aside from that, I love the potential demonstrated in that map!

BTW: SMART has installed signage at future stations. Saw one at the Civic Center site in San Rafael yesterday. It's a "sign" of good things to come! Wow, that was cheezy.

[rocketman_95046]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

You know, for the moment I'd be happy with a unified map of what exists today and an integrated fare system with which to ride it. Clipper certainly helps but you're still paying every individual system a separate fare, making some trips pretty expensive. Aside from that, I love the potential demonstrated in that map!

BTW: SMART has installed signage at future stations. Saw one at the Civic Center site in San Rafael yesterday. It's a "sign" of good things to come! Wow, that was cheezy.

Past SSP Forumer JChurch's website http://www.sfcityscape.com has a lot of great transit maps. Such as this one below.

[CyberEric]

That's a nice map! Now if we could just get something like it installed in stations and trains. The Bay Area needs to stop the secret transit!

[peanut gallery]

Very cool map. That's exactly what I was getting at, Eric. I'd like to see the agencies get together on this stuff and communicate a more unified message on how to get around. This map + ferry + certain intracity bus routes (if that's possible without overcomplicating matters) would paint a much better picture. Then create rate zones (similar to the London Underground) and you have a much easier-to-use regional system. Maybe the MTC can make something like that happen someday.

[M II A II R II K]

[fflint]

I'm already kind of nostalgic about BART's current stock, especially the "aerodynamic" front cars, but I know I'll appreciate the new cars for their modernity and cleanliness. A short conceptual video of BMW's proposed designs for the 775 new BART cars the agency is preparing to purchase:

• Video Link

[ardecila]

Yeah, BART definitely has that Space Age modernity we're starting to re-appreciate through Mad Men and such.

I know the inter-agency conflicts in SF are legendary, but Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and ACE should really come under a common brand and for regional rail, and a common pricing structure (Clipper). SMART is less essential to integrate because it's disconnected from the other three by substantial natural barriers.

[tech12]

^having all the commuter rail in the region all be under the same control would be pretty cool.

And I like those new BART cars. I was never a fan of the pointy nose cars honestly (just on aesthetics, that's all), so I'm glad that it looks like we won't be getting new ones like that. And the lack of cloth seats or carpets will be much better.

[ozone]

I am old enough to remember when BART was new. As a kid the train cars were very space-agey, clean and classy -especially compared to the trains I rode when I visited family back East. Today they are tired, tattered and dirty and are long overdue for an upgrade but give them respect - they were the best back in the day.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by tech12

^having all the commuter rail in the region all be under the same control would be pretty cool.

Doesn't even have to be the same control. It just needs to be a unified brand, with unified paint schemes, logos, and signage (and of course universal acceptance of Clipper and universal tickets).

[peanut gallery]

Cool video, fflint, thanks for posting that. I like the illumination around the doors when they open and the continuous wall of windows on each side with the maps and ads above on concepts B and C. I hope they go that route.

[tech12]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Doesn't even have to be the same control. It just needs to be a unified brand, with unified paint schemes, logos, and signage (and of course universal acceptance of Clipper and universal tickets).

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I guess I just assumed that if they had the same livery/logos/signage/etc, that it would mean it's now all the same system...as in, all "under the same control". It would pretty much be a merger of three different systems into one, right? Or am I missing something about how that could work?

[ardecila]

Not exactly. You just need the three agencies (Caltrain, SJRRC, Amtrak California) to agree on a common paint scheme, install Clipper machines, and do some sort of basic accounting where the revenue from a Capitol Corridor ticket purchased at a Caltrain station gets transferred from Caltrain to Amtrak.

It's a lot easier than actually merging the agencies, because then you'd have to sort out all the thorny political control issues, figure out how to combine different sources of funding, and generally deal with all sorts of really touchy, sensitive issues like eliminating redundant staff. It would be great for Bay Area taxpayers but it's not realistic, unless the governor or legislature were to push for it.

From the customer's perspective, all he cares about is how easy it is to get from Point A to Point B, not who's running the trains or how they're funded. If Point A is Palo Alto and Point B is Fremont, then all he cares about is a single ticket to make the journey and a quick, easy transfer at Diridon or Santa Clara.

[Gordo]

I can't imagine that there's really much need to combine the customer experience for those three lines - there just isn't much reason to use two on a given day (even if ACE expanded service dramatically and a second track was built for Capitol Corridor to have more than a handful of SJ trains).

Now...I could see the point if a Dumbarton crossing ever came to fruition.

Under current operating realities, it would make much more sense to brand Caltrain and BART together - much more existing and potential interchange, since both serve different areas but at reasonably similar frequencies.

[fflint]

Capitol Corridor is different from Caltrain and ACE, being both a commuter railroad and an inter-urban. Ditto for the San Joaquins. It would be weird to have Bay Area livery rolling through Sacramento or Bakersfield. Ultimately, the paint jobs and names don't matter as much as easy connectivity, a clear and unified regional transit map, and adoption of Clipper Cards for all systems. The SPUR piece posted earlier in this thread does a great job identifying what would really matter to riders.

As for BART and Caltrain, I disagree they have similar frequencies--maybe they're closer at the height of rush hour, but the rest of the time BART runs with much higher frequencies and longer hours. The difference is greatest at night and on weekends: for example, the last northbound Caltrain Sunday night leaves San Jose at 9:00pm, while the last BART train heads north from Fremont at midnight.

[OhioGuy]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Cool video, fflint, thanks for posting that. I like the illumination around the doors when they open and the continuous wall of windows on each side with the maps and ads above on concepts B and C. I hope they go that route.

I think I like concept B the most... though maybe others might be able to point out better aspects of concepts A and C. I liked the middle section in concept B, with longitudinal seating near the middle doors, which in turn opens up the aisle a little more for easy flow of people in & out. And for people still wishing to sit facing forward/backwards & enjoy the view out the windows when above ground, there are a number of seats in this layout at the front & back of the car (as well as one row inserted between the longitudinal seating). Plus it seems to offer a little more standing room.