BART completes track repair project two weeks early

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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BART/File photo

A track repair project by San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has wrapped up two weeks earlier than planned. 

 

Completing construction between the Daly City and Balboa Park stations, officials say the crew members have restored direct regular weekend service to the San Francisco International Airport, whereas passengers previously had to rely on a bus bridge to get between Glen Park and Daly City.

Crews changed out more than 4,000 feet of rail and replaced 930 wood crossties. Workers also installed 2,800 sound dampers, rearranged power systems in the area, reconstructed a local segment of the train control system, laid 1,600 feet of cable and cleared away five dead or sickly trees which crews say posed threats of obstructing the trains’ path.

BART originally expected the project to take up seven weekends of work, but maintenance crews instead completed the repairs in five weekends.

“Had crews not been able to work for the entire weekend, the repairs would have taken over four months, and some of the work would not have been possible,” BART representatives said. “Miles of worn rail needed replacement near Balboa Park, as well as the reconstruction of a crossover.”

Maintenance crews are finishing repairs to the crossover during regular maintenance hours, and they say the structure is likely to resume regular service within the next few weeks.

BART representatives say much of its infrastructure including rails, power transmission cabling, substations, tunnels and track circuitry has become degraded, warranting repairs and replacements.

BART representatives say additional repairs are expected throughout the transit system in 2017, with a $71.5 million budget in place for core system reinvestment.

BART has also placed a bond measure—Measure RR—on the upcoming 2016 presidential ballot. If approved, the company says the bond would go toward funding capital improvements such as further rail replacements. Additional plans can be seen outlined here: bart.gov/betterbart.

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