BART Board conditionally earmarks $2.5 million for additional station

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

A future additional station along the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) eBART extension could receive a $2.5-million boost after a vote October 9 by the BART Board of Directors, who voted to earmark the funds toward the cost of a Pittsburg Center Station at the intersection of Highway 4 and Railroad Avenue.

 

The contribution was approved as a revision to BART’s FY 2014 budget and is contingent on a funding agreement with other area transit agencies and the city of Pittsburg, Calif. If the funding partnership fails, BART’s $2.5-million stays in its operating reserves. BART says project proponents are optimistic the details will be worked out soon.

“This is a unique opportunity to potentially fund a new facility without financial risk to our existing facilities,” said BART Board President Joel Keller, who represents eastern Contra Costa County. “It’s also an important act of good faith to our project partners, particularly the city of Pittsburg.”

eBART is a 10-mile extension of BART service from the existing Pittsburg/Bay Point Station to Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch. It’s expected to begin service in 2018. eBART is being built in coordination with Caltrans’ Highway 4 widening project to bring commute relief as soon as possible to East County.

The total cost for the Pittsburg Center Station is estimated to be $11.9 million. The city of Pittsburg has already agreed to provide $3.5 million of the total and similar financial commitments are expected from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Contra Costa Transit Authority.

The future eBART Pittsburg Center Station will be located three miles east of the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station and has been a concept since the 1990s. The station is expected to increase BART ridership by 20 percent. BART expects the station to support future Transit Oriented Development, such as office buildings, retail and multi-family housing centered around public transportation.

 

 

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