Bay Area Regional Transit System
The 70s brought several positive advances for the city, including the Bay Area Regional Transit system (BART), which helped to facilitate San Francisco’s development and accessibility [10]. These maps demonstrate that regional planning work done in the late 60s strongly influenced planning for the Bay Area Regional Transit system (BART), and related light rail systems. Since BART opened in 1972, it has had a reinforcing effect on the development patterns envisioned by the Bay Area Regional Governments (as shown in the first map). Today, a transit-oriented development policy (implemented in 2005) encourages high-density development along the BART lines. This further shapes land use and development, concentrating more people, services, and activity along these paths. While this has been a step in the right direction for San Francisco, some projects coming out of the TOD policy have been criticized for being slow-moving and ineffectual [18].
Even with the booming job market and wealth in other parts of the Silicon Valley, this regional connectivity has kept San Francisco relevant and desirable. Regional transportation may have diffused some of the population, but it has also been a force helping to keep San Francisco densely populated—allowing people to commute and travel more easily from the city. More aggressive action in regards to transportation and development will be needed to combat two of the city’s largest issues—parking and congestion—as well as to address the numerous issues that have arisen with regional connectivity. If more urban development does come from the regional transit-oriented development policies, then San Francisco may see some of its residents leave for these likely more affordable areas along the corridor.
Even with the booming job market and wealth in other parts of the Silicon Valley, this regional connectivity has kept San Francisco relevant and desirable. Regional transportation may have diffused some of the population, but it has also been a force helping to keep San Francisco densely populated—allowing people to commute and travel more easily from the city. More aggressive action in regards to transportation and development will be needed to combat two of the city’s largest issues—parking and congestion—as well as to address the numerous issues that have arisen with regional connectivity. If more urban development does come from the regional transit-oriented development policies, then San Francisco may see some of its residents leave for these likely more affordable areas along the corridor.