As we’ve previously reported, BART is a very curious commuter train and really wants to know what its riders think about improvements such as new seats and service changes.
In one recent endeavor, BART was considering extending service by an hour Friday nights and starting an hour later Saturday mornings. After administering on-board surveys the first two Saturdays in May, BART realized it was a flawed plan, since it would negatively effect low-income and minority riders. So, as it explains, it’s got a whole new proposal up its sleeve, one with an annual cost of $680,750, with a one-time marketing and training cost of $305,000.
Instead of extending service by an hour Friday nights, BART is now thinking 34 minutes later, with Saturday morning’s services starting 20 minutes later as well.
As the Ex reports, though many are fans of extending BART’s hours to include later nights, the amount of extra people served on its current proposal may only amount to 500 new nighttime riders and lose them 400 morning riders. Yup, that’s an additional 100 total riders, which adds up to a cost of about $6,808 per passenger added.
This Saturday, informational fliers will be posted on the morning’s first departing trains, with BART staff also available at the concourse levels of the Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center Stations to answer questions about the proposal and collect rider feedback from 6 A -7 AM.
Then next Saturday, October 15, BART’s will conduct another round of on-board passenger surveys on the first trains to depart that morning. Results from the survey will then be analyzed and presented to the board on November 17. If the changes are approved, they’ll be implemented in February of next year.
Those interested in giving BART feedback but not in waking up early Saturday morning should email service@bart.gov by October 31.
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