The chosen routes and station loca- tions do not break new territory but conform to existing transportation patterns in the San Francisco Bay Area. Looking at the map, the close spacing of the stations between Em- barcadero and Castro and Mission Street, and in central Oakland, reflects the downtown concentration of the two major cities in the region. They are linked by the 4-mile underwater 'Trans-Bay Tube' - 'longest under- water transit tube in the world' by which it will be possible to travel from the heart of San Francisco to the heart of Oakland in 9 min.
The tunnelled sections of route under land in these downtown areas were dictated by the density of the existing development. The tunnel be-
tween Rockridge and Orinda passes under a ridge of high hills. Elsewhere, the line runs at or above ground level - except through Berkeley, a majority of whose citizens voted to pay the extra costs involved in burying the rail- way under their town.
Rolling stock
The fact that the tube trains thus emerge to rumble above-ground through the negro ghetto of North Oakland, only to dive discreetly again under Berkeley, has naturally attracted unfavourable comment. But not every- one would agree that Berkeley has spent its money wisely. In Stockholm, for example, the planning of new tubes underground, while motorways are invariably elevated, is cited as an
outrageous example of discrimination against travellers by the former mode!
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The electronically-controlled trains running on BART will comprise 70ft-long light-weight carriages to 10 of them in each train each seating 72 passengers in individual re- clining chairs. In these air-conditioned vehicles, the aisles will be carpeted, the lighting recessed and the windows of anti-glare glass. There will be no smok. ing.
T
The exceptional gauge of the rail- way 5ft. 6in. has permitted 10ft. 6in. wide by 10ft. 6in. high carriages with, in consequence, generous internal area and 6ft. 9in, centre ceiling height.
The design maximum speed of 80 miles an hour and acceleration at 3 miles/h/s will allow scheduled journey
30
Richmond
El Cerrito del Norte
Concord
Pleasant Hill
El Cerrito Plaza
Walnut Creek
Lafayette
North Berkeley
Berkeley
Orinda
shby
San Francisco Bay
Rockridge
Macarthur
Oakland West
19th Street Oakland 12th Street Oakland
Lake Merritt
San Francisco
County
Pacific Ocean
Embarcadero)
Montgomery Street,
Civic Centre, Van Ness Church Street, Castro Street
est Portal
Powl Street,
16th Street Mission
124th Street
Mission
Glen Park
Balboa Park
Daly City
Surface or aerial line
Tunnel, tube or subway
Stations with parking
N
Fruitvale
Coliseum
Contra Costa County
San Leandro
Bay Fair
Hayward
Alameda County
South Hayward
Union City
Fremont
Far East BUILDER, May 1971