Image 1 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Unification: The most popular suggestion we got, other than expansion (more on that in a moment), was unifying the area's multiple agencies into one, larger agency that could provide for better coordination and lower costs. Reader el_sandino vented, "Get them together under one big umbrella, save money, and produce a system that works instead of a patchwork system that really, truly, does very little right."  Image 1 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Unification: The most popular suggestion we got, other than expansion (more on that in a moment), was unifying the area's multiple agencies into one, larger agency that could provide for better coordination and lower costs. Reader el_sandino vented, "Get them together under one big umbrella, save money, and produce a system that works instead of a patchwork system that really, truly, does very little right."  Unification: The most popular suggestion we got, other than...expansion (more on that in a moment), was unifying the area's multiple...agencies into one, larger agency that could provide for better...coordination and lower costs. Reader el_sandino vented, "Get them...together under one big umbrella, save money, and produce a system that...works instead of a patchwork system that really, truly, does very...little right."  Image 2 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Unification: The area's agencies include Muni, BART, Caltrain, AC Transit, and Golden Gate Transit (besides several others). And many commuters, especially those who live outside of SF, have to use multiple agencies. The Clipper Card makes it relatively easy to pay multiple fares for these agencies but that's not enough for many. Reader Heidi E. commented on Facebook, "One transit agency for all of the Bay Area. Having so many different agencies is archaic and counter-productive."  Image 2 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Unification: The area's agencies include Muni, BART, Caltrain, AC Transit, and Golden Gate Transit (besides several others). And many commuters, especially those who live outside of SF, have to use multiple agencies. The Clipper Card makes it relatively easy to pay multiple fares for these agencies but that's not enough for many. Reader Heidi E. commented on Facebook, "One transit agency for all of the Bay Area. Having so many different agencies is archaic and counter-productive."  Unification: The area's agencies include Muni, BART, Caltrain,...AC Transit, and Golden Gate Transit (besides several others). And many...commuters, especially those who live outside of SF, have to use...multiple agencies. The Clipper Card makes it relatively easy to pay...multiple fares for these agencies but that's not enough for many....Reader Heidi E. commented on Facebook, "One transit agency for all of...the Bay Area. Having so many different agencies is archaic and...counter-productive."  Image 3 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Unification: As for what the future holds? No one knows but Susie W. made an excellent point on Facebook. "For a region hosting the best universities, top venture capital firms, highly educated, intelligent populace, huge financial resources and the top think tanks you'd think there would be a collaboration of all that with futuristic vision to create an infrastructure that is elastic, kinetic, flexible for the ages. Why not create a task force with those entities?"  Image 3 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Unification: As for what the future holds? No one knows but Susie W. made an excellent point on Facebook. "For a region hosting the best universities, top venture capital firms, highly educated, intelligent populace, huge financial resources and the top think tanks you'd think there would be a collaboration of all that with futuristic vision to create an infrastructure that is elastic, kinetic, flexible for the ages. Why not create a task force with those entities?"  Unification: As for what the future holds? No one knows but...Susie W. made an excellent point on Facebook. "For a region hosting...the best universities, top venture capital firms, highly educated,...intelligent populace, huge financial resources and the top think tanks...you'd think there would be a collaboration of all that with futuristic...vision to create an infrastructure that is elastic, kinetic, flexible...for the ages. Why not create a task force with those entities?"  Image 4 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Coordination: One big advantage of everything being under one roof? Better coordinating between transfers. Have you ever popped off a BART train and gotten above ground just to wait 20 to 30 minutes for a bus? It's a frequent pain for many commuters, especially for East Bay folks, and a better coordination between the transit agencies could go a long way toward solving this issue. Says reader noescuses, "Coordinate routes and schedules so there is not just one way to get from one place to another. If the bus comes to the BART station only once every half hour, it is extremely disheartening to arrive on the train just in time to see the back of the bus and know that's another half hour added to your travel time." Amen. Of course, the likelihood of this happening is slim unless the agencies are all connected.  Image 4 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Coordination: One big advantage of everything being under one roof? Better coordinating between transfers. Have you ever popped off a BART train and gotten above ground just to wait 20 to 30 minutes for a bus? It's a frequent pain for many commuters, especially for East Bay folks, and a better coordination between the transit agencies could go a long way toward solving this issue. Says reader noescuses, "Coordinate routes and schedules so there is not just one way to get from one place to another. If the bus comes to the BART station only once every half hour, it is extremely disheartening to arrive on the train just in time to see the back of the bus and know that's another half hour added to your travel time." Amen. Of course, the likelihood of this happening is slim unless the agencies are all connected.  Coordination: One big advantage of everything being under one...roof? Better coordinating between transfers. Have you ever popped off...a BART train and gotten above ground just to wait 20 to 30 minutes for...a bus? It's a frequent pain for many commuters, especially for East...Bay folks, and a better coordination between the transit agencies...could go a long way toward solving this issue. Says reader noescuses,..."Coordinate routes and schedules so there is not just one way to get...from one place to another. If the bus comes to the BART station only...once every half hour, it is extremely disheartening to arrive on the...train just in time to see the back of the bus and know that's another...half hour added to your travel time." Amen. Of course, the likelihood...of this happening is slim unless the agencies are all connected.  Image 5 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: Another very popular response? Expanding BART. Be it across San Francisco, across the Bay again, or to Silicon Valley, there were lots of calls for this to happen. BART, though, is working on some of these things. Plans are well underway for expansion to, among other places, San Jose. Still, one can only imagine what life would have been like if this plan for BART had ever been implemented, though many of our readers want a complete loop around the Bay (which makes a lot of sense). New branches of BART aren't the only ways of expanding the system, though.  Image 5 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: Another very popular response? Expanding BART. Be it across San Francisco, across the Bay again, or to Silicon Valley, there were lots of calls for this to happen. BART, though, is working on some of these things. Plans are well underway for expansion to, among other places, San Jose. Still, one can only imagine what life would have been like if this plan for BART had ever been implemented, though many of our readers want a complete loop around the Bay (which makes a lot of sense). New branches of BART aren't the only ways of expanding the system, though.  Expansion: Another very popular response? Expanding BART. Be it...across San Francisco, across the Bay again, or to Silicon Valley,...there were lots of calls for this to happen. BART, though, is working...on some of these things. Plans are well underway...for expansion to, among other places, San Jose. Still, one can only...imagine what life would have been like if this plan for BART had ever been implemented, though many of our...readers want a complete loop around the Bay (which makes a lot of...sense). New branches of BART aren't the only ways of expanding the...system, though.  Image 6 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: Remember this, the construction of the first - and, well, only - Transbay Tube? Many readers want more, though, whether it goes to Alameda, Fremont, or Richmond. While the idea of a second tube comes up pretty regularly, there's been no movement towards officially building one and, even if there was, it'd be years away from construction let alone completion.  Image 6 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: Remember this, the construction of the first - and, well, only - Transbay Tube? Many readers want more, though, whether it goes to Alameda, Fremont, or Richmond. While the idea of a second tube comes up pretty regularly, there's been no movement towards officially building one and, even if there was, it'd be years away from construction let alone completion.  Expansion: Remember this, the construction of the first - and,...well, only - Transbay Tube? Many readers want more, though, whether it...goes to Alameda, Fremont, or Richmond. While the idea of a second tube comes up...pretty regularly, there's been no movement towards officially...building one and, even if there was, it'd be years away from...construction let alone completion.  Image 7 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: One way to relieve packed buses and trains? More of them. Reader Inferno510 commented, "Also BART needs more trains and more routes. I just came back from Washington D.C. which has the Metro which is just like BART and it goes everywhere every 2 minutes. It proves it is an obtainable goal to add a lot more routes." And reader dontwannago mentioned the same thing, noting the need to renovate stations accordingly: "Time to do some major reconstruction on stations to be able to bring more trains in and out."  Image 7 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: One way to relieve packed buses and trains? More of them. Reader Inferno510 commented, "Also BART needs more trains and more routes. I just came back from Washington D.C. which has the Metro which is just like BART and it goes everywhere every 2 minutes. It proves it is an obtainable goal to add a lot more routes." And reader dontwannago mentioned the same thing, noting the need to renovate stations accordingly: "Time to do some major reconstruction on stations to be able to bring more trains in and out."  Expansion: One way to relieve packed buses and trains? More of...them. Reader Inferno510 commented, "Also BART needs more trains and...more routes. I just came back from Washington D.C. which has the Metro...which is just like BART and it goes everywhere every 2 minutes. It...proves it is an obtainable goal to add a lot more routes." And reader...dontwannago mentioned the same thing, noting the need to renovate...stations accordingly: "Time to do some major reconstruction on...stations to be able to bring more trains in and out."  Image 8 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  More Muni: The desire for higher frequency isn't a BART-only issue. Many readers also shared their desire for more frequent Muni service. On Facebook, reader Mike C. said, Muni trains need to run more often. We shouldn't have to wait 15 minutes for the N Judah during rush hour." And, also on Facebook, reader Maurice R. added, "MUNI should have double and triple trains for ALL lines, both during the morning and evening rush hour."  Image 8 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  More Muni: The desire for higher frequency isn't a BART-only issue. Many readers also shared their desire for more frequent Muni service. On Facebook, reader Mike C. said, Muni trains need to run more often. We shouldn't have to wait 15 minutes for the N Judah during rush hour." And, also on Facebook, reader Maurice R. added, "MUNI should have double and triple trains for ALL lines, both during the morning and evening rush hour."  More Muni: The desire for higher frequency isn't a BART-only...issue. Many readers also shared their desire for more frequent Muni...service. On Facebook, reader Mike C. said, Muni trains need to run...more often. We shouldn't have to wait 15 minutes for the N Judah...during rush hour." And, also on Facebook, reader Maurice R. added,..."MUNI should have double and triple trains for ALL lines, both during...the morning and evening rush hour."  Image 9 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: BART's not the only expansion people want; several mentioned extending Caltrain further into SF.  Image 9 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: BART's not the only expansion people want; several mentioned extending Caltrain further into SF.  Expansion: BART's not the only expansion people want; several...mentioned extending Caltrain further into SF.  Image 10 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: One interesting - and very, very expensive - proposal came from a handful of readers: Move more transit underground. Reader Razzll said, "Put it all underground. Extend the freeway from 280 north underground up 19th Avenue to the GG Bridge. Put MUNI underground on Geary all the way out to the beach." Reader sweer_lou suggested, "19th ave gets an underground tunnel to make trip from 280 to GGB faster." And reader John L. commented on Facebook, "Extend underground trains, not above ground, across California street, up Van Ness to the bay."  Image 10 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: One interesting - and very, very expensive - proposal came from a handful of readers: Move more transit underground. Reader Razzll said, "Put it all underground. Extend the freeway from 280 north underground up 19th Avenue to the GG Bridge. Put MUNI underground on Geary all the way out to the beach." Reader sweer_lou suggested, "19th ave gets an underground tunnel to make trip from 280 to GGB faster." And reader John L. commented on Facebook, "Extend underground trains, not above ground, across California street, up Van Ness to the bay."  Expansion: One interesting - and very, very expensive -...proposal came from a handful of readers: Move more transit...underground. Reader Razzll said, "Put it all underground. Extend the...freeway from 280 north underground up 19th Avenue to the GG Bridge....Put MUNI underground on Geary all the way out to the beach." Reader...sweer_lou suggested, "19th ave gets an underground tunnel to make trip...from 280 to GGB faster." And reader John L. commented on Facebook,..."Extend underground trains, not above ground, across California...street, up Van Ness to the bay."  Image 11 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: One of the most noted aspects of the BART expansion requests is an extension to 24 hours of BART service, at least for some selected lines. Maybe for the routes to the airports? This is another topic that the transit agency is already exploring via a project extending service to certain parts of the Bay via bus into the wee hours of the morning. On Facebook, Tom C. noted, "Make BART 24 hours, at least hourly overnight on weekends. Decrease DUIs." And John L. added, "24/7 service, even if its only once an hour. Public transit strands the public after midnight."  Image 11 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Expansion: One of the most noted aspects of the BART expansion requests is an extension to 24 hours of BART service, at least for some selected lines. Maybe for the routes to the airports? This is another topic that the transit agency is already exploring via a project extending service to certain parts of the Bay via bus into the wee hours of the morning. On Facebook, Tom C. noted, "Make BART 24 hours, at least hourly overnight on weekends. Decrease DUIs." And John L. added, "24/7 service, even if its only once an hour. Public transit strands the public after midnight."  Expansion: One of the most noted aspects of the BART expansion...requests is an extension to 24 hours of BART service, at least for...some selected lines. Maybe for the routes to the airports? This is...another topic that the transit agency is already exploring via a project extending service to...certain parts of the Bay via bus into the wee hours of the...morning. On Facebook, Tom C. noted, "Make BART 24 hours, at least...hourly overnight on weekends. Decrease DUIs." And John L. added, "24/7...service, even if its only once an hour. Public transit strands the...public after midnight."  Image 12 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Better security: Security was an issue for many readers, especially noteworthy given last year's uneven crime stats for BART. Facebook reader Laura W. asked for "more security" while commenter permiewriter said, "It would be pretty sweet if BART would enforce the rules about conduct in the stations and platforms."  Image 12 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Better security: Security was an issue for many readers, especially noteworthy given last year's uneven crime stats for BART. Facebook reader Laura W. asked for "more security" while commenter permiewriter said, "It would be pretty sweet if BART would enforce the rules about conduct in the stations and platforms."  Better security: Security was an issue for many readers,...especially noteworthy given last year's uneven crime stats for...BART. Facebook reader Laura W. asked for "more security" while...commenter permiewriter said, "It would be pretty sweet if BART would...enforce the rules about conduct in the stations and platforms."  Image 13 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Fare enforcement: You probably see the Muni fare enforcement crew out a lot, but it's needed more, according to reader Dirk Rock, who said, "More fare jumper enforcement. Some of these lines, more than half of the people aren't paying (MUNI 14, 49, for example)." As a frequent rider of the 14 myself, I can back this claim up. Of course, like many of these issues, this is a call that comes up pretty regularly.  Image 13 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Fare enforcement: You probably see the Muni fare enforcement crew out a lot, but it's needed more, according to reader Dirk Rock, who said, "More fare jumper enforcement. Some of these lines, more than half of the people aren't paying (MUNI 14, 49, for example)." As a frequent rider of the 14 myself, I can back this claim up. Of course, like many of these issues, this is a call that comes up pretty regularly.  Fare enforcement: You probably see the Muni fare enforcement...crew out a lot, but it's needed more, according to reader Dirk Rock,...who said, "More fare jumper enforcement. Some of these lines, more...than half of the people aren't paying (MUNI 14, 49, for example)." As...a frequent rider of the 14 myself, I can back this claim up. Of...course, like many of these issues, this is a call that comes up pretty regularly.  Image 14 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Cleaner buses: It never fails: as you board a Muni bus or BART train, you see an empty seat but rush to it only to discover the reason its empty is because someone has smeared an ICEE or ketchup or sunflower seeds all over it. It's gross and makes the bus or train even more crowded. Reader CnL6 got a little tongue-in-cheek with this response: "We can start by being a little like Singapore and cane the filthy riders who are gross and slobs. Perhaps that might clean up things a bit, and make bus, MUNI and BART rides a bit more tolerable and less odorous." And Facebook commenter Douglas E. suggested, "Remove all cloth seats and make all buses easy to clean like a Honda Element."  Image 14 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Cleaner buses: It never fails: as you board a Muni bus or BART train, you see an empty seat but rush to it only to discover the reason its empty is because someone has smeared an ICEE or ketchup or sunflower seeds all over it. It's gross and makes the bus or train even more crowded. Reader CnL6 got a little tongue-in-cheek with this response: "We can start by being a little like Singapore and cane the filthy riders who are gross and slobs. Perhaps that might clean up things a bit, and make bus, MUNI and BART rides a bit more tolerable and less odorous." And Facebook commenter Douglas E. suggested, "Remove all cloth seats and make all buses easy to clean like a Honda Element."  Cleaner buses: It never fails: as you board a Muni bus or BART...train, you see an empty seat but rush to it only to discover the...reason its empty is because someone has smeared an ICEE or ketchup or...sunflower seeds all over it. It's gross and makes the bus or train...even more crowded. Reader CnL6 got a little tongue-in-cheek with this...response: "We can start by being a little like Singapore and cane the...filthy riders who are gross and slobs. Perhaps that might clean up...things a bit, and make bus, MUNI and BART rides a bit more tolerable...and less odorous." And Facebook commenter Douglas E. suggested,..."Remove all cloth seats and make all buses easy to clean like a Honda...Element."  Image 15 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Cleaner stations: That request extends to stations, too. We've already waded through - literally and figuratively - the worst BART stations. By the end, it was harder to find a station anyone considered clean. It's a sentiment Twitter user @CA_Sherri echoed, asking, "Make the stations cleaner and safer."  Image 15 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Cleaner stations: That request extends to stations, too. We've already waded through - literally and figuratively - the worst BART stations. By the end, it was harder to find a station anyone considered clean. It's a sentiment Twitter user @CA_Sherri echoed, asking, "Make the stations cleaner and safer."  Cleaner stations: That request extends to stations, too. We've already waded through - literally and figuratively - the...worst BART stations. By the end, it was harder to find a station...anyone considered clean. It's a sentiment Twitter user @CA_Sherri...echoed, asking, "Make the stations cleaner and safer."  Image 16 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Bathrooms: On Facebook, Barbara F. called for BART to "reopen public bathrooms." A few other readers echoed the sentiment. But as the few BART stations with restrooms prove, this could also increase the difficulty of keeping the stations clean.  Image 16 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Bathrooms: On Facebook, Barbara F. called for BART to "reopen public bathrooms." A few other readers echoed the sentiment. But as the few BART stations with restrooms prove, this could also increase the difficulty of keeping the stations clean.  Bathrooms: On Facebook, Barbara F. called for BART to "reopen...public bathrooms." A few other readers echoed the sentiment. But as...the few BART stations with restrooms prove, this could also increase...the difficulty of keeping the stations clean.  Image 17 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  More gas tax: One suggestion that wouldn't be popular with drivers is upping the gas tax to pay for better transit infrastructure that could prevent meltdowns. Reader park_kelly said, "significantly raise the gas tax to pay for construction of public transit that works." And reader pewtercotton suggested using revenue from a higher gas tax to make public transit free (though good luck with that).  Image 17 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  More gas tax: One suggestion that wouldn't be popular with drivers is upping the gas tax to pay for better transit infrastructure that could prevent meltdowns. Reader park_kelly said, "significantly raise the gas tax to pay for construction of public transit that works." And reader pewtercotton suggested using revenue from a higher gas tax to make public transit free (though good luck with that).  More gas tax: One suggestion that wouldn't be popular with...drivers is upping the gas tax to pay for better transit infrastructure...that could prevent meltdowns. Reader park_kelly said, "significantly...raise the gas tax to pay for construction of public transit that...works." And reader pewtercotton suggested using revenue from a higher...gas tax to make public transit free (though good luck with that).  Image 18 of 18 |Readers Transit Wishlist  Privatize agencies: This was another big one. As more communities across the nation, including some in the Bay Area, make the move to privatize their transit agency, why not Muni or BART? Reader shmik made that very suggestion as did reader akeita. Even if the agencies don't fully privatize, they can still learn from new private transit options like LEAP, as outlined in an excellent story at WIRED.  Image 18 of 18 - Readers Transit Wishlist  Privatize agencies: This was another big one. As more communities across the nation, including some in the Bay Area, make the move to privatize their transit agency, why not Muni or BART? Reader shmik made that very suggestion as did reader akeita. Even if the agencies don't fully privatize, they can still learn from new private transit options like LEAP, as outlined in an excellent story at WIRED.  Privatize agencies: This was another big one. As more...communities across the nation, including some in the Bay Area, make the...move to privatize their transit agency, why not Muni or BART? Reader...shmik made that very suggestion as did reader akeita. Even if the...agencies don't fully privatize, they can still learn from new private...transit options like LEAP, as outlined in an excellent story at WIRED.
Earlier this week, we turned to our readers for suggestions on how you'd fix the city's public transit systems. And just as with with traffic pet peeves, you responded loudly with dozens of suggestions, from the practical to the, uh, unprintable. Many of the suggestions made sense, eve