Bay Area's Transbay Dilemma: Second BART Tube or Second Bay Bridge?

In December, Sen. Dianne Feinstein reactivated her call for a southern crossing over the Bay while the BART Board last week began studying a second Transbay tube. The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board opines on which is preferable.

3 minute read

February 25, 2018, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


San Francisco

Pikadream / Shutterstock

California's senior U.S. senator, Dianne Feinstein, and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, (D-Concord) have asked the San Francisco Bay Area's transportation agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, to consider a bridge option to provide relief for transbay travelers between the East Bay and West Bay, which includes San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District board began planning for a second transbay tube which could possibly include standard gauge tracks to carry commuter and intercity trains.

It boils down to a modal competition, as one would accommodate primarily motorists, and the other BART passengers and potentially passengers on other rail lines.

"One makes sense and the other should be tossed," opines the editorial board of the San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 22.

BART is facing crush load capacity limits and its leaders are giving serious thought to a second Transbay Tube. It’s an enormous undertaking — likely the biggest infrastructure project ever in the region — but it could bring benefits in a variety of ways, not just a quicker commute ride. 

Another, older idea is making a modest comeback, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense. A long-discussed “second crossing” that calls for another car-carrying bridge connecting the east and west sides of the bay ... But it’s the wrong answer, given scarce money and changing travel needs. [Feinstein's] request for a battle plan on building such a span should be respectfully shelved.

The dream of the "southern crossing" even predates Feinstein's term as mayor of San Francisco. "In 1972, the state of California placed a proposal to build the Southern Crossing before voters in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and San Mateo counties," reported Dennis Evanosky last June for the Oakland Conduit. "Voters said 'no' by more than a three-to-one margin."

The issue takes on some political importance as voters in all nine Bay Area counties go to the polls in a just over four months to vote on Regional Measure 3, a modest toll increase of $3 on all seven state-owned toll Bridges in the Bay Area over six years. The measure "would provide $50 million for planning and preliminary engineering of a second rail tube connecting the East Bay and San Francisco," according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Feinstein and DeSaulnier want a bridge study included.

A rail tunnel(s) could also provide standard gauge rail tracks to accommodate Capitol CorridorCaltrain, or Amtrak trains. Michael Cabanatuan describes that option in his piece (posted here) in the San Francisco Chronicle last week. BART trains operate on a wide gauge track used by few, if any, other rail systems.

What was omitted in the editorial was the effect of what a second transbay crossing would have on growth and land use. It's a classic case of choosing to invest in highways or public transit. The former promotes sprawl while the latter facilitates compact growth.

Related in Planetizen: 

"Consensus is brewing that a new transbay rail line is needed to solve the problem. A big-picture vision for a second transbay BART tube (which SPUR called for in a 2009 Report), has gained traction in recent months. A second transbay rail tube — be it for BART, standard rail like Caltrain or Amtrak, high-speed rail or a combination of the three — is essential to solving the Bay Area’s transit capacity crunch."

Thursday, February 22, 2018 in San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of snowy single-family homes in suburban Long Island, New York

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition

Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

March 20, 2023 - Mark H. McNulty

Empty parking garage at night with yellow lines marking spots and fluorescent lighting

Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City

In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.

March 16, 2023 - The New York Times

A futuristic version of New York City, with plants growing neatly on top of modern skycrapers.

Friday Eye Candy: 20 AI-Generated Cityscapes

AI-generated images are creating new landscapes and cityscapes, capable of inspiring awe or fear.

March 17, 2023 - Chris Steins via Medium

A group of wetsuit-clad swimmers gathers to talk in shallow water near the shore of the San Francisco Bay.

Proposed Pool Would Make an Olympic-Sized Play Area in the San Francisco Bay

The San Francisco Bay is usually an undesirable place to swim, except for a hearty few. A development proposal seeking assistance at the state level would add a pool to the Bay’s waters to make the idea of going for a swim more appealing.

March 24 - The Mercury News

Chicago elevated train over busy city street surrounded by high-rise buildings

Chicagoland Transit Agencies Call for State Funding as Budget Shortfall Looms

Illinois transit agencies want to see changes to a law requiring them to collect half of their revenue from transit fares, arguing that low ridership and staffing shortages will lead to a massive budget gap without intervention.

March 24 - Crain's Chicago Business

Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge

Panel: Minneapolis Zoning Updates Should Reflect Mixed-Use Future

A discussion of post-pandemic changes in work and commuting concluded that the city’s overhaul of its zoning code should be less restrictive with land uses.

March 24 - MinnPost

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.