Comments on: BART Scrambles on Oakland Airport Connector Equity Review Failure

By: davidagalvan

davidagalvan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:06:04 +0000

I hope you know how lucky you (San Franciscans) have it. Down here in L.A. we can’t even get rail to LAX. The Green line stop is about a mile from the terminals, and people have been saying that there will eventually be an air-tran type connection to the green line, but they’ve been saying that for years. And even if there was, the Green line only goes due East toward Norwalk. . . it would require another transfer to the Blue line to get to downtown L.A..

I visited S.F. a few weeks ago and took the BART from SFO to downtown. Well worth the $8. What a breeze!

By: djconnel

djconnel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:11:28 +0000

Oakland gets 14 million passengers per year, so $492M @ 10%/year is $3.50/passenger (that’s ALL of the passengers, not just those taking BART).

By: Drunk Engineer

Drunk Engineer — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:35:20 +0000

“BART hoped it could put debate over the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) in the past as it lined up funding, got approval from local governments, and received lower than expected construction bids…”

Lower than expected bids? What are you talking about?

Two of the bids were way over-budget. At $492 million, the third bid (the winning bid) came in just a hair under budget. But that third bid did not meet the technical requirements due to its low speed. BART staff “solved” that problem by changing the technical requirements.

By: djconnel

djconnel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:08:27 +0000

This project is a clear, naked boondoggle. Robo is exactly correct. What does this solve, other than to hand out money to people to have them dig holes in the ground? I can already get to Oakland quickly and easily from the Coloseum BART.

I’d much rather have a Millbrae->SFO shuttle bus, delivering me to my terminal, than the financial disaster which has been BART->SFO. Think of what the funds flushed down that toilet could have done for Caltrain, . Now we’re repeating the mistake.

By: Robo

Robo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:35:24 +0000

Lots of flying pork on this project. Keep you head low.

By: David hills

David hills — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:56:04 +0000

Interesting to read about the watchdoging of funding to ensure access to low income populations. In NH we have no viable public transportation system so the BART seems like a delight! This is an important isuue to get covered. Thanks for writing about it!

By: Seth Goddard

Seth Goddard — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:29:46 +0000

BART’s current ad with Southwest Airlines says it best. BART advertises its existing service as:

“Taking BART to or from OAK is fast, convenient and saves you money.”

Their proposed “people mover” solution can’t be described as fast, it’s certainly less convenient than being dropped off at the terminal and there’s no question on the money front — it will cost more.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:31:12 +0000

If BART really wanted to make getting to the Oakland Airport easier… how about just making it so that you could use your EZ Rider Card (or Translink). Having to buy a second three dollar ticket/carrying cash really is my only complaint with the existing system.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:44:06 +0000

@Jamie I second that! I still haven’t been convinced that an expensive prestige project is even necessary, much less the best option.

By: mikesonn

mikesonn — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:34:06 +0000

@Richard, oh ok. I knew that. I thought maybe it was something along the lines of fares, etc.

But yeah, SamTrans is hurting. Good thing BART’s ridership predictions are never wrong – I’d hate to see VTA sink.

By: jamie

jamie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:09:37 +0000

I’m cool with AirBART, personally.

By: Richard Masoner

Richard Masoner — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:57:47 +0000

Good for the FTA for sticking it to BART like this.

@Mike: SamTrans (the San Mateo County transit agency) was supposed to pay the costs and reap the reward of BART to SFO. BART claimed BART to SFO would generate a profit. What they got instead was $48 million in operating costs that nearly bankrupted San Mateo County.

By: mikesonn

mikesonn — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:38:25 +0000

What was the issue with the SFO connection? And what happens if BART says it’ll only charge $2/ride then jacks it up to $6 or $8 like going to SFO now because “it’s still the cheapest option.”