I am a little disappointed BART's cars have become more spartan and that the new trains fully embrace the identity of a bland urban transit system. The trains had once been rather comfortable, especially back when they actually maintained the carpet and upholstery (I almost suspect BART engineered the outcry about their dirty seats). Their exterior design was clean and sleek.

What I am more upset is they way the system's once futuristic design (for its trains and stations) has been worn down by lack of maintenance and poor decisions. I just came across the latest proposal for "improving" Powell Street, and it is truly terrible. Acres of plastic open-grid ceiling not fit for a Mid-Western mall's food court. Anyone remember when the entire trackside walls in Montgomery and Powell were coded red or blue? The original signage was elegant, and while a bit funky looking, the molded forms of the electronic information signs were totally space age.

I agree that Powell needed some refitting, but sadly we cannot trust BART to do right by what was once a beautiful system.