California Senator Josh Becker has introduced a bill that takes another pass at creating a more seamless and integrated Bay Area transit system.
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Compared to other major cities, the Bay Area's transit system is uniquely lacking. Current day, if you want to take transit from Alamo Square to San Francisco's Ocean Beach you'll first need to take a bus, then BART and then MUNI. All with different schedules, maps and feeds.
However, Becker's plan may finally give our public transportation that needed boost.
The bill would require transit agencies to create a Connected Network Plan to elevate the rider experience. The plan would emphasize schedule coordination, improve service standards, develop a single regional transit map and create a standardized wayfinding system.
"We must act quickly to entice riders back to public transit—and put the rider experience front and center," Becker said in a statement. "While our transit agencies have made great strides in the past few years with their renewed commitment to integration, there is much more work to be done."
"An integrated fare structure in particular would save a lot of riders money which we think would bring a lot more riders to the system," Ian Giffiths with the Seamless Transit nonprofit told KCBS Radio
The prospect of more money is especially important post-pandemic, "as we've tried to figure out how to recover public transit from the devastating impacts of COVID-19," Giffiths explained.
He said the goal of improving Bay Area transit has been discussed "literally for decades" with little action, but Becker's version may be different as it incorporates new ideas from a study conducted by the transit agency.
According to Becker the bill would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve access to jobs and housing for residents.
The bill now awaits a hearing before the transit committee for approval.
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