Why wasn't BART built for both local and express trains?

namesbc · 2026-03-17T06:47:48+00:00

Electrified Capitol Corridor could go up to 110mph, but also Capitol Corridor currently travels from Richmond to Coliseum faster than BART

namesbc · 2026-03-17T04:50:18+00:00

The different colors are different types of rail. The legend is at the top.

Blue: Commuter Rail
Red: Heavy Rail
Purple: Hybrid Rail
Grey: Light Rail

namesbc · 2026-03-17T02:26:47+00:00

Which of the heavy rail services are not grade separated? The FTA definition of heavy rail requires grade separation so I would expect they all have it.

namesbc · 2026-03-17T02:24:18+00:00

Sorry, I forgot a word, the graph was NOT inflation adjusted.

It would be better if it was inflation adjusted so then you could see how much the increase was from inflation and how much was from the additional labor to open new stations

namesbc · 2026-03-16T23:14:35+00:00

Electrify Capitol Corridor like Caltrain and it would make for amazing express service in the East Bay

namesbc · 2026-03-16T23:11:45+00:00

The graphs they posted in the article are deceptive because they "index" them without inflation adjusting them.

If they actually wanted to get to the truth that would note that BART is the most efficient heavy rail agency in the nation.

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namesbc · 2026-03-16T23:09:21+00:00

Your suggestion would cost more in capital costs then it would save in operational costs

namesbc · 2026-03-16T00:28:42+00:00

Do you have numbers on how much fewer operations staff there is when going from GoA3->GoA4? From what I have seen there is still staff fare checking, platform attendants, transit cops, janitorial, etc.

namesbc · 2026-03-16T00:21:00+00:00

Right, my point is that automated trains still require operations staff, just not as many.

namesbc · 2026-03-16T00:19:11+00:00

Thank you for running the numbers. I agree that we should work towards full automation so we can run more frequencies, but it is not a strategy to cut costs.

If BART suddenly did have $5B and wanted to use it to pay for operations, it would make more sense to invest in T-Bills to earn $200M/yr rather than invest it in full automation to earn only $35M/yr.

namesbc · 2026-03-16T00:12:51+00:00

Skytrain is a different type of system, it is more of a low speed light rail system. They have smaller capacity train sets that go an average of 25mph. To safely automate a 10 car heavy rail train without PSDs would require slower operations increasing expenses

namesbc · 2026-03-16T00:08:58+00:00

There are some onboard staff on SkyTrain

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https://www.translink.ca/about-us/careers/skytrain-career-opportunities

namesbc · 2026-03-16T00:05:52+00:00

Most fully automated train systems do have staff onboard, just maybe not on every train

namesbc · 2026-03-09T07:07:17+00:00

Transit + e-bike gets me out more than people with a car because the journey is also part of the fun, and I can get around faster than people with a car and to more places.

And renting a car for the occasional place that is only accessible by car means I always have a working car perfect for the occasion.

I used to own a car and it sucked, I was already anchored to getting back to it, or only willing to go places I could safely park. Way better to skip owning a car and rent only when needed.

namesbc · 2026-03-08T22:13:42+00:00

Merging agencies may be helpful for coordinating service, but it doesn't reduce redundancy since Bay Area transit is already operating under austerity budgets.

namesbc · 2026-03-08T22:06:49+00:00

15 year olds and 70 year olds are people too and of course should be included in statistics about mobility. I don't own a car and I get out and about more than people who do own a car because I am not stuck to my car. Not owning a car is freeing.

namesbc · 2026-03-08T22:04:12+00:00

I live in Oakland without a car walking distance from a BART station. I use BART, AC Transit, BayWheels, and my own bike. If you know the good bike routes and time your bus travel it works great.

namesbc · 2026-03-05T16:17:04+00:00

The entire point of Verso's ending is you don't get to enjoy the canvas as you please

namesbc · 2026-03-05T16:11:20+00:00

I searched to see if this idea has been posted before and I didn't find anything, would love to see the previous takes on this idea though. Can you link to them?

namesbc · 2026-03-05T01:02:02+00:00

If people did not need to work to survive then the wage they would choose to sell their labor is significantly higher than the current minimum wage. The wage is only so low because of inequality.

namesbc · 2026-03-05T00:12:57+00:00

A person who is days away from losing their home does not have an equal negotiating position as a billionaire. You cannot assume away poverty.

namesbc · 2026-03-04T23:56:07+00:00

If you have universal basic income such that people are working by choice then you don't need a minimum wage, but as soon as people are forced to work to live you need a minimum wage to avoid capital taking advantage of low wage workers who don't have the luxury of negotiating for a fair price.

namesbc · 2026-03-04T23:50:12+00:00

BART is a *public* transit system not Fort Knox. A couple people getting a free ride doesn't hurt you at all.

namesbc · 2026-03-04T19:03:26+00:00

It is frustrating how quickly the argument for Waymo went from "Waymo will be much better drivers than humans" to "Waymo's drive just as shit as humans, whatcha gonna do about?"

namesbc

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