BART PLANS TO REPLACE 41 ESCALATORS, FOUR ELEVATORS

The Board of Directors of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority (BART) in San Francisco met on March 14 to approve a US$96.4-million plan to replace 41 escalators and four elevators at the system's busiest stations, various news outlets, including FOX KTVU Channel 2,report. Board President Bevan Dufty said the move, described by the San Francisco Gate as the largest-ever BART escalator expenditure, would be "game changing." The process is expected to take approximately seven years, with the first units delivered in spring 2020 and approximately six units per year being installed. Stations set to get new equipment are Embarcadero (including four elevators), Montgomery, Powell and Civic Center/UN Plaza. The contract includes outdoor canopies to protect the equipment and requires the contractor to maintain 96% availability over 10 years.