OUR INSPIRATION
What inspired us to make My New BART was our own experiences and frustrations about the stations and trains of BART. As a team of public transit users, we found frustrations within BART as well -- driving us towards the redesign of two stations -- MacArthur and 16th Street Mission. These two stations, in particular, stuck out in our minds.
MACARTHUR STATION, OAKLAND
MacArthur Station is a transit center in Temescal for both BART lines and buses. It's located near both retail stores on Telegraph Ave as well as residential neighborhoods. Several transit-oriented housing developments are either in progress or planned to be built near the station in the near future.
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Despite this scene of opportunity, MacArthur is still perceived as one of the least welcoming and most dangerous BART stations. Factors that play into this, we found, are high-profile publicized crimes, like the tragic murder of Nia Wilson, as well as environmental factors, such as the concourse and adjacent plaza being located underneath the I-580. The freeway makes the plaza darker and less secure, especially at night.
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As a team, we decided to address these issues and reimagine the future of the MacArthur BART Station. Below include images and renderings of we would like to see implemented at the station. Some notable design implementations include the addition of monitoring/information booths, glass elevators to increase visibility, planter seating to provide greenery and seating during wait times, and a farmer's market in the MacArthur plaza under the I-580 to improve safety.
A section plan of MacArthur station
16TH ST AND MISSION STATION, SAN FRANCISCO
The 16th St. Mission BART Station is located in the Mission District of San Francisco. This neighborhood is known for its prominent Latino culture, local eateries, retail stores, architecture, and wall murals. While the Mission District showcases it's diverse culture, the 16th Street BART Station lacks it.
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As a team, we decided to bring the culture into the BART Station by redesigning it to have artwork and murals along the walls of the station. The murals serve to provide a sense of identity in the station by bringing in the diverse culture of the Mission District. In addition, we decided to include the addition of a coffee stand so riders are able to grab a quick drink/bite during their commute and provide a better waiting experience when there is a train delay.
The concourse of a re-imagined 16th Street/Mission station.
A section plan of 16th Street/Mission station