New entrance and walkway at Balboa Park Station

The roughly 12,000 BART customers who use the Balboa Park Station on a daily basis now have better, safer connections to City College, Muni and the schools, businesses and homes in the neighborhood.

Today marked the completion of the new, better lighted walkway on the western side of the Station. BART Board President Bob Franklin, Board Members James Fang, Tom Radulovich and other officials dedicated the new walkway and other improvements in an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 am Friday, April 15, 2011.

"This is an important new beginning for everyone who uses Balboa Park Station, one of our busiest," Board President Bob Franklin said. "We at BART would not be here today without our partners in this project and we can all take pride in knowing we're making a tangible improvement for thousands of customers today."

The upgrades include a new 1,500 square foot mezzanine on the northwest side of the existing mezzanine, a new entrance and fare gate area, a new 10 foot wide ADA accessible concrete ramp, upgraded lighting and new security cameras.

"While the whole BART system is important to me, I have to admit that I am particularly proud when I see a project like this that improves a San Francisco community," BART Board Member James Fang said. Director Fang's district includes Balboa Park Station. "Making access to our stations safe for everyone is vital as we move forward."

The $6.5 million project was funded, in part, by $2 million in federal stimulus money. Another project, on the east side of the station, is anticipated to be under construction next year.

"The good news is not just the upgrades we're celebrating today, it's also the fact there's more to come," BART Board Member Tom Radulovich said. "We're thrilled to announce that $2.8 million of grant funding has been identified for the Eastside Connection Project." Director Radulovich has been a strong and consistent advocate of improvements to Balboa Park Station.

The Eastside Connection Project Scope includes a pedestrian bridge, canopy modifications, improvements to the Muni platform and walkway and a fully accessible connection between BART and Muni.

For more information on planned improvements at Balboa Park and other BART stations visit the BART Planning Section.