SF Transit

SF Transit

Low-cost improvements for BART and Muni

Small changes—signage, gates, boarding, fares—that make riding clearer, faster, and less hostile without a megaproject.

BART

Top cheap BART improvements

  1. Leave doors open at the end of the line

    Keep doors open for many minutes before departure at the start of the line, with a clear schedule of when trains leave. It’s annoying to have to stand up and watch the signs when departure displays often don’t give accurate leave times—an easy fix is open doors until the train actually goes.

  2. Post fares everywhere—and show what you paid

    More fare-price signage and a clear charge amount when you tap out. We need to be clearer about how much a ride costs. Different people pay different prices—post the regular fare in more places next to system maps.

  3. Open station gates all the way

    When the station is open, gates often aren’t up all the way—or one stays closed. While the station is in service, keep entrances fully open, at least until the last train.

  4. Real-time departures above gates and street stairs

    Show next trains where people decide—above fare gates and at street-level stairs—not only deep on the platform. The four downtown San Francisco stations sort of have this today, but why not right above the stairs? One sign for BART and one for Muni.

  5. Market-rate housing near BART, with parking maximums

    Fix zoning so more homes can be built next to stations, with parking maximums—not minimums.

  6. Stop cycling the next-train signs

    Show all upcoming trains at once on platform boards instead of rotating through trains that won’t arrive for 20+ minutes. Having to stand and watch the board for 15+ seconds just to get the most important information is frustrating.

  7. New voice for train announcements

    Replace the current announcement voice with something clearer and less grating.

  8. Tame the high-pitched door-closing noises

    Soften BART’s aggressive door chimes. Other systems—Chicago and New York, on both subways and commuter trains—use far less piercing high-pitched door-closing sounds.

  9. Market credit cards and pretax fare benefits

    Widely advertise that you can tap a credit card—and that many employers let you pay with pretax dollars.

  10. Remove the pay phones

    It’s 2026.

  11. Ear plugs from station agents

    BART is loud—in many cases dangerously loud for human ears, especially kids. Make simple ear plugs available at agent booths, and apologize to riders.

  12. Remove the bike racks at 24th Street

    They haven’t worked—frames with missing wheels are a bad look. Take them out.

Muni

Top cheap Muni improvements

  1. Bus bulbs—and stay in the lane

    Build boarding bulbs so buses don’t weave in and out of traffic. Tell drivers not to pull to the curb when the stop is designed for in-lane boarding.

  2. Great real-time info at stations

    Clear, reliable departure boards and screens where riders are waiting.

  3. Market credit-card payment

    Make it obvious that you can pay with a credit card—not only Clipper.

  4. Faster door open and close on trains

    Tighten the door cycle so dwell times shrink without rushing riders.

  5. Fare capping on Clipper

    Stop charging once you’ve hit a daily or weekly maximum.