Overall Planning of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District Project

The planning of a modern rapid transit system requires consideration of a variety of elements. If such a system is to succeed it must be located and designed to serve those elements. It must provide fast, comfortable and economical transportation; be compatibly related to other forms of transportation; encourage the orderly growth of the urban area; and be built at the least reasonable cost. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit System has moved through these planning stages and is in the process of construction. Considerable research was required to meet operating criteria, as well as high standards for comfort and esthetics. Meanwhile, the communities to be served by the new system are accelerating their own master planning to accommodate the impact of the $1.2-billion network upon their areas.