BART Extension Kerfluffle: East Bay Officials Pushing for New Rail Authority

If the city of Livermore and several state legislators gets their way, a proposed extension of BART to the city of Livermore would be planned and built by the Tri Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.

1 minute read

April 17, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


BART Station

A BART train at what is now the penultimate station on the Dublin/Pleasanton line. | Eric Fischer / Flickr

"Fed up with delays, the [Livermore] City Council on Monday backed a proposal to take away control from BART directors for building an extension to Livermore," reports Angelo Ruggiero.

With the vote, the City Council supported state legislation that would create a new rail authority for the BART-to-Livermore project, called the Tri Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.

"The Tri Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority would plan a regional rail connection between BART, Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) in the Tri-Valley, or a new regional connection between the valley and San Joaquin County, according to a city report," adds Ruggiero.

The article includes scathing assessments from local officials of BART's planning of an extension to Livermore.  Michael Tree, executive director of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, is quoted in the article saying the regional transit system has "no intention of bringing BART to Livermore." BART President Rebecca Saltzman responded by noting that BART is expecting to finalize an Environmental Impact Review for the project later this year.

Monday, April 10, 2017 in East Bay Times

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

Seattle Legalizes Co-Living

A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.

December 1, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Times Square in New York City empty during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project

Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.

December 1, 2024 - StreetsBlog NYC

Broken, uneven sidewalk being damaged by large tree roots in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Broken Sidewalks

Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?

December 5, 2024 - Donald Shoup

cars

Study: Automobile Dependency Reduces Life Satisfaction

Automobile dependency has negative implications for wellbeing. This academic study finds that relying on a car for more than 50 percent of out-of-home travel is associated with significant reductions in life satisfaction.

December 10 - Science Direct

Yellow San Diego Unified School District school bus.

San Diego School District Could Accelerate Workforce Housing Program

A proposal to build housing on five district-owned properties could yield 1,000 housing units for low- and moderate-income district employees.

December 10 - Governing

Red bus parked at transit station in Denver, Colorado with CO state capitol dome in background.

Denver Transit Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget

The 2025 budget for the Regional Transportation District is the largest in the agency’s 55-year history.

December 10 - The Denver Post

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.