Bay Area Rapid Transit
Mission Economic Development Association
San Francisco Planning Department
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Urban Ecology
Located in the heart of San Franciscos Mission District, the 24th Street BART plazas are a significant transit node for three neighborhoods: the Mission, Bernal Heights, and Noe Valley. They act as a gateway to the community and provide much-needed public space, maximizing natural light and air. The present design of the plazas, however, fosters little sense of identity, and visual and physical barriers prevent mobility for pedestrians and threaten public safety.
In late 2000, funded by a grant from MTCs Transportation for Livable Communities program, BART formed a partnership with the Mission Economic Development Association, Urban Ecology, and the San Francisco Planning Department to develop a community design plan for the two plazas. Through outreach conducted by MEDA and a series of public workshops by Urban Ecology, a community vision was created.
Urban Ecology’s design seeks to create a bustling center that reflects the Mission Districts vibrant culture. The design focuses on:
Improving visibility and accessibility
Building new shelters at the escalator entries and at the bus stops
Encouraging vendors, performances, and a diversity of activities and people on the plazas
Working with local artists and artisans to spur economic development and give the plazas a unique identity
As the project proceeds the design will be refined through ongoing conversations with Mission residents, artists, and business and property owners. BART plans to apply for capital funding in 2002, with construction to begin in 2003.
