Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations
Of the fifty total stations in the BART system (as of May 2024), eight stations are located within the city of San Francisco:
- Embarcadero
- Montgomery Street
- Powell Street
- Civic Center/UN Plaza
- 16th Street Mission
- 24th Street Mission
- Glen Park
- Balboa Park
The concept for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) began in 1946 through informal discussions among business and civic leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area. They were seeking solutions to the growing post-war congestion and automobile traffic in the region.
BART construction officially began in 1964, with President Lyndon Johnson presiding over the groundbreaking for the initial 4.4-mile Diablo Test Track. The test track was used to develop and evaluate new transit car and control system designs for the full BART system.
BART service first began on September 11, 1972, with over 100,000 passengers in the first five days. However, the system faced significant challenges during construction in the 1960s, including higher than expected inflation and pressure to relocate and upgrade stations. This led to financial troubles and management turmoil, including the resignation of the general manager in 1974.
In 1974, the BART board was restructured to be directly elected by district residents, replacing the previous appointed board. This helped stabilize the system, and BART went on to receive industry awards in the 1990s and 2000s for its performance and innovations. Despite some challenges over the years, BART has remained a critical part of the San Francisco Bay Area's transportation infrastructure since its inception.
For more information:
Bart.gov
San Francisco Chronicle
Wikipedia
