The agency plans to modernize its fleet with more efficient rail cars equipped with new safety features.
The San Francisco Bay Area’s Rapid Transit District (BART) was awarded a $545 million loan to by the U.S. Department of Transportation to upgrade its rail cars as part of the agency’s effort to modernize its fleet.
According to an article from Golden Gate Media, “The new rail cars boast advanced safety and accessibility features, including LED screens, digital cameras for enhanced security, and a third door to streamline entry and exit. The upgrade is expected to save BART up to $394 million, thanks to a faster production schedule and revised delivery rates completed in September, according to DOT officials.”
The article notes that the new, U.S.-produced cars will feature lightweight aluminum construction, white roofs that deflect heat, and regenerative braking that puts energy back into BART’s energy grid.
FULL STORY: California's BART Secures $545 Million Loan for New Rail Cars, Marking Major System Upgrade
BART to Raise Fares in January
The transit agency says it needs more state and federal support to meet its operating costs and avoid a growing budget gap.
BART Will Run Shorter Trains
The agency says shorter trains will enable them to increase security, retire aging cars, and save on energy costs.
The Perilous Future of Bay Area Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit, a hugely successful system pre-pandemic, is now struggling to close a massive projected budget gap, with no certain solutions on the table.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks
Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.
To Build More Housing, Cities Must Be Smarter in How They Use Land
How strategic land use policy decisions can alleviate the housing crisis and limit unsustainable sprawl.
Parking Reform Can Boost Homebuilding 40 to 70 Percent
More evidence that parking flexibility is key to housing abundance.
California Adds Complete Streets to Transportation Funding Guidelines
The state transportation commission previously declined to include bike and pedestrian infrastructure in its updated funding guidelines, despite a new state law requiring Complete Streets efforts in all Caltrans projects.
Omaha Streetcar Yielding $1.5 Billion in TIF Funds
The line, scheduled for completion in 2027, is bringing billions in new investment to the city’s urban core.
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.
City of Prescott
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
Temple University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
CORP - COnsulting Research Projects
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners