Draft Transit 2050+ Network Released
Bay Area transit’s ongoing transformation into a more connected, more efficient and more customer-focused mobility network today took another step forward as transit agency and MTC staff at the July meeting of the Regional Network Management Council unveiled the Draft Transit 2050+ Network. The Draft Transit 2050+ Network outlines how to make trips faster and more frequent at all times of day and how to connect more communities by bus, train or ferry.
The Draft Transit 2050+ Network is the result of a first-of-its-kind planning effort for a better Bay Area public transit system. Staff from MTC and the region’s transit agencies have worked closely together to identify a series of improvements and investments that could be made over the next 25 years in order to keep the Bay Area’s transit system operating while expanding it for the future.
In summer 2023, thousands of Bay Area residents told regional planners what matters most to them in deciding whether or not to take public transit: convenience, travel time, frequency, safety and cleanliness. The Draft Transit 2050+ Network plan identifies key strategies and investments that will advance these priorities. Included in the Draft Network are six strategies that aim to enhance the customer experience and increase ridership:
- Operate and maintain the existing transit network
- Better coordinate fares, signage and more across transit agencies
- Improve the transfer timing at key regional hubs
- Enhance security, safety and cleanliness on transit
- Enhance transit frequency, capacity and reliability
- Expand transit services throughout the region
Staff conducted in fall 2023 and winter 2024 a Needs, Gaps, and Opportunities Assessment focused on near-term transit service needs, followed by an assessment of major capital and operating projects through the Project Performance Assessment in winter and spring 2024. These data-driven analyses were considered in tandem with public and stakeholder feedback to shape the Draft Transit 2050+ Network.
Projects included in the Draft Transit 2050+ Network are divided into two categories: near-term projects to upgrade existing transit service, such as more frequent bus, train and ferry service; and longer-term expansion projects, such as new express bus service and rail expansions that improve system capacity. However, these projects can only become a reality if an estimated $86 billion in new money is raised to pay for them, likely through tolls, taxes or fees. If the needed money is secured, near-term projects are slated to begin service between 2025 and 2035, while longer-term projects will open in 2036 through 2050.
Among the many benefits to riders, including simpler fares, more frequent service, more travel options between communities and better coordination of services, the Draft Network also will help the Bay Area support cost-effective ridership recovery and growth by accelerating bus investments; advance high-priority rail projects, such as BART to Silicon Valley Phase 2 and the Caltrain/High-Speed Rail Portal project, to completion; and fund complementary strategies such as a unified mapping and wayfinding system and investments in safety and security for customers.
Transit 2050+ is a parallel effort to Plan Bay Area 2050+, the Bay Area’s long-range plan integrating transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental resilience strategies. The Draft Network will be incorporated into the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Final Blueprint in late 2024. Staff will be conducting engagement on Plan Bay Area 2050+ and Transit 2050+ starting in early August through early fall. The public comment period is scheduled for August 5 to September 9.