New Bay Area Transit Maps Assist Blind and Low-Vision Riders

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has created tactile system and station maps for several Bay Area transit systems, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Caltrain, San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), and Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit). The maps aim to improve the customer experience for blind and low-vision riders when navigating the systems.

The maps are produced and distributed by LightHouse’s Media and Accessible Design (MAD) Lab. They combine braille and tactile graphics to provide a hands-on way to explore transit systems, station layouts, and build confidence in navigating independently.

For example, the BART collection includes tactile maps of every station at street, concourse, and platform levels. There’s also a one-page BART system map and individual maps for each line. BART’s maps are available by request and at station agent booths for reference.

“BART is grateful to the MAD Lab team for their work in expanding access to tactile transit information and assisting BART in its mission to make transit more accessible for everyone,” said Ryan Greene-Roesel, director of customer access and accessibility.