BART Demonstration Programs

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is constructing a completely new rapid transit system predicated on standards of service designed to achieve maximum patronage by making it competitive with other modes of transportation, including the private automobile, in terms of speed, convenience, comfort, safety, and economy. To assure that the car and the fixed facilities will have the maximum passenger appeal, public acceptability and economy of construction and operation, a development and test program was formulated to include investigation of transit vehicle stability and wind resistance, sound and vibration reduction, improved propulsion equipment, transit vehicle trucks, and automatic train control. The program also included the development of an automatic fare collection system and improved track construction methods. This program was supported by three Federal grants totaling approximately $7,930,000 as work done by BART would be of national significance.