Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) announced its Powell St. Modernization Program on November 22nd. The completion of the program was celebrated with a ribbon cutting and a press conference attended by local dignitaries.
Powell Street is the third busiest station in the BART system. It’s also where many visitors get their first taste of San Francisco, and serves as an important starting point to access the city’s fun and entertainment.
The modernization program reimagines the station experience, revitalizing function, safety and security, capacity, sustainability, appearance and customer experience.
Station upgrades include public restrooms, LED lighting, 5-foot tall glass turnstiles, a modern metal grid ceiling, and a new exterior canopy. The modernization also includes the installation of new illuminated ceiling artwork titled “Elysium” by San Francisco artist Stephen Galloway.
BART Director Bevan Dufty, who represents Powell Station, said: “We are delighted to invite riders to experience all the upgrades first hand.”
Like Dufty, BART Director Janice Lee applauded the transit agency’s efforts to improve the essential San Francisco Station experience.
“As we continue to welcome riders out of the pandemic, we are focusing on every way we can improve the customer experience,” Li said.
Station changes are mostly subtle. Stations have become brighter, safer and serve thousands of passengers daily. Notably, the ticket gates and ticket vending machines have been removed from the center of the concourse and moved to the periphery, opening up the station and improving visibility.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed praised the station’s increased visibility and aesthetics, noting that the modernization plan portends San Francisco to “come back to life.”
“This is one of the best cities in the world because we work hard to be that way,” she said.
