Introduced during the pandemic in an area where many residents now work remotely, the new stations have failed to attract new commuters.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which serves the San Francisco Bay Area, opened two new stations this summer, hoping to draw more commuters to the system with a $2.3 billion extension to Milpitas and Berryessa. To bring BART to the South Bay, VTA, Santa Clara County's transportation authority, agreed to fund the extension and contribute to overall system improvements in exchange for keeping the proceeds from South Bay station fares and parking fees.
With COVID-19 bringing commuting down drastically as many Bay Area workers stay home, ridership to and from the new stations has been disappointing. VTA remains optimistic. "The systems were expanded looking out for 100 years — this is a long, long-term investment," spokesperson Bernize Alaniz told the Mercury News. With thousands of new apartment units going up around the South Bay stations, the agency expects a large influx of new BART riders in the coming months and years. Those who have used the new stations had positive reviews, citing them as "some of the nicest" they'd seen. And while many people can work from home during the pandemic, many essential workers still rely on public transit. Despite low current ridership, now is not the time to make cuts to essential transit services that serve the most vulnerable communities.
BART Closes $35 Million Deficit
Cost control and revenue generation measures prevented service cuts.
South Bay BART Extension Gets $5.1 Billion in Federal Funding
The grant brings the project closer to reality, but delays and cost overruns are putting a completion date more than a decade away.
BART Reorients Service for Weekend Travelers
With weekday commuter ridership still lagging far below 2019 levels and remote work not going anywhere anytime soon, the agency plans to increase train frequencies on weekends and reduce some weekday service.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland