BART'S VILLAGE VISION

In San Francisco, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) claims nearly 116 km (72 mi) of rail surrounded by acres of surface parking lots. BART's focus is shifting, however, toward high-density mixed-use transit villages. This article provides several examples of proposed transit villages, which include office space, retail space, housing, senior centers, child care centers, pedestrian plazas, and even movie theaters. The concept of transit villages maximizes the value of public infrastructure by bringing a sense of community with the mixed-use development. Parking remains a major issue in every BART project. The challenge for planners of transit villages is the integration of neighborhood-scale retail uses with office and commercial uses that are regional in scope, while maintaining access and parking accommodations for transit riders.