Bay Area public transportation
I must admit, though noisy and not very clean, the public transportation system in NYC, accessible via a less than $100 monthly pass, is relatively fast (compared to traffic), cheap, and very convenient.
I am thinking about making a trip up to Berkeley this weekend, because I will have to get there by myself, I have been debating about whether to make the full drive up, or drive halfway to Fremont and take the BART.... (if only there's a direct ride straight from Santa Clara! I'd take it even if it means a 2 hour ride each way, because I can sleep all the way!)...
So it will take me 30 min. just to drive to the Fremont BART station, then an addition 45 min. on the BART (negligible cost is ~$4). Compare that to the 50+ min. entire drive up to Berkeley/Emeryville, I am looking at the classic trade-off between time and effort. =)
Oh, and did I ever mention that the Caltrain and BART only overlap at the Millbrae SFO airport station? Urh.... I think this system doesn't work?! at least, not for my agenda.... why couldn't they just build an entire system that runs along the two sides of the bay, with a connection shuttle service across either 92 or 84 bridge? Whoever that laid out the initial transit map must not have taken the future population expansion of the region (the entire SF, Peninsula, South bay, East bay) into consideration. Then again, they may have designed the layout nearly 100 years ago, and different from the NYC/London/BJ/Tokyo systems, the lack of utilization has prevented the Caltrain/BART system from rapid development/expansion.
Sigh... if only ppl had the forethought to be willing to put in the initial investment for the convenience of future generations. This is a class example of how things should've been done Right but instead were done through stages along the "play it by ear" method. Don't you see? When the need arises (like the recent gas price hike, it's too late to upgrade a transportation system to meet the demand! very much unlike the rapid-morphing high-tech/software industry).
just my $0.02... venting due to frustration, still wondering how to get to Berkeley tomorrow... sigh...
I am thinking about making a trip up to Berkeley this weekend, because I will have to get there by myself, I have been debating about whether to make the full drive up, or drive halfway to Fremont and take the BART.... (if only there's a direct ride straight from Santa Clara! I'd take it even if it means a 2 hour ride each way, because I can sleep all the way!)...
So it will take me 30 min. just to drive to the Fremont BART station, then an addition 45 min. on the BART (negligible cost is ~$4). Compare that to the 50+ min. entire drive up to Berkeley/Emeryville, I am looking at the classic trade-off between time and effort. =)
Oh, and did I ever mention that the Caltrain and BART only overlap at the Millbrae SFO airport station? Urh.... I think this system doesn't work?! at least, not for my agenda.... why couldn't they just build an entire system that runs along the two sides of the bay, with a connection shuttle service across either 92 or 84 bridge? Whoever that laid out the initial transit map must not have taken the future population expansion of the region (the entire SF, Peninsula, South bay, East bay) into consideration. Then again, they may have designed the layout nearly 100 years ago, and different from the NYC/London/BJ/Tokyo systems, the lack of utilization has prevented the Caltrain/BART system from rapid development/expansion.
Sigh... if only ppl had the forethought to be willing to put in the initial investment for the convenience of future generations. This is a class example of how things should've been done Right but instead were done through stages along the "play it by ear" method. Don't you see? When the need arises (like the recent gas price hike, it's too late to upgrade a transportation system to meet the demand! very much unlike the rapid-morphing high-tech/software industry).
just my $0.02... venting due to frustration, still wondering how to get to Berkeley tomorrow... sigh...
Labels: finding
-- posted by Pooh Bear @
7/25/2008 12:48:00 PM
2 Comments:
IIRC, I've heard from coworkers the reason why BART doesn't extend further south along the Peninsula is due to the rich folks like there. I can double check.
It's even more frustrating for me since I live in south SJ.
On a similar topic and in the news recently, Menlo Park and Atherton plan to sue to block development of a bullet train between SF to LA. See http://www.paloaltodailynews.com/article/2008-8-8-rail.
On this note, on http://www.mercurynews.com/mrroadshow right now:
"Article Launched: 08/16/2008 01:30:48 AM PDT
Q Do you think BART will ever circle the bay? I've never heard talk of extending it south from Millbrae to San Jose.
Pam Adolf
Sunnyvale
A No, and it would be an unwise way to spend scarce money. That idea died four decades ago, when San Mateo County voted against joining the BART district, leading Santa Clara County to forgo its plans for BART running down the Peninsula. Leaders down here then allocated money to build an expressway system. If the high-speed rail bond measure passes in November, the line will run along the Caltrain tracks, providing upgrades for Caltrain and making a BART line down the Peninsula unnecessary. Plus, since Caltrain began running express trains a few years ago, ridership is booming and a trip from San Jose to San Francisco can now be made in a snappy hour."
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