Bay Area denizens love making "dream" maps of public transit. The reality, of course, is that the construction of new lines, tracks, and whatever else is required to add new public transit to the city takes decades of planning and loads of money and time. Keeping that in mind, one individual decided to map out what all the current planning and proposed construction might actually look like — in a "best-case scenario," that is — by 2050.
In a Medium post titled "Bay Area 2050: the BART Metro Map," Adam Susaneck depicts current BART and Muni lines, and layers proposed and in-progress lines on top. "The BART Metro Map consolidates the Bay Area’s existing transit — currently spread over two dozen different transit agencies — and aggregates proposed, planned, and under-construction projects," he explains. "The map envisions a 'best-case scenario,' in which every proposal currently under consideration around the Bay has been funded and constructed (wishful thinking, of course). As we trudge down Geary on the 38, jam ourselves into rush hour BART, or as CalTrain experiences yet another delay, this map imagines an integrated, reliable, and truly regional transit future."
Susaneck goes into detail about all the assumptions made in his Medium post, noting that his motivation in creating the map was to "help people understand what is being considered and what our transit future could look like with more funding and more commitment from local governments." One such example? The above maps shows the second Transbay Tube that's been batted around stretching from 3rd and King to a stop in Alameda.
The Chronicle picked it up, and curmudgeonly notes that "the map is highly optimistic and ignores the bureaucratic red tape and funding issues that will almost certainly block or delay many of these projects."
Which, yeah, but we can dream, can't we?
Related: Map: The BART System, If It Were in Super Mario Land