BART Considers Foray Into The Retail Industry
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Plans have been launched to start bringing vendors into BART stations.
You could call it a bit of a no-brainer.
"Retail is part of the transit experience," reasoned BART spokesman Jim Allison. "The ability to get a cup of coffee to take with you in your container to your office on the way to work in the morning."
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
The transit agency has the space available for vendors - small boutiques or cafes, for instance.
"BART, like everybody else, has our eyes on the bottom line. So we're looking at ways to get revenue, to get money," Allison explained. "If we can add to our revenues while you do that and kind of make it a little bit more enjoyable beyond the BART concourse then that's a good thing."
He stressed that commuters wouldn't be adversely affected by the vendors.
"The idea is to ensure both efficient passenger flow through the stations in the future and also the ability for BART to pursue new sources of revenue, new ways to get money," Allison said.
The BART Board of Directors this week overwhelmingly approved a measure regarding station vendors, and has ordered staff to begin preparing a new retail policy.
The Board also gave the green light for the transit agency to formally request bids from vendors interested in opening up shop at a station.
There was no timeline given for vendors to actually move in to the stations.
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