eBART Project Facts

Project Milestones
Phase I Proposed Project
Proposed Operating Characteristics
Project Alternatives
Project Timeline
Project Funding

Project Milestones

1999	BART Board adopted the System Expansion Policy
2001	Feasibility study began, co-led by BART and CCTA
2002	Feasibility study completed
2003	Fund allocations halted
2004	Regional Measure 2 passes with $96 million for eBART. Measure J passes with $150 million for eBART
2005	Environmental review begins
2009	Project Development Phase expected completion
2010	Construction scheduled to begin
2014	Project construction completed, service scheduled to begin

In the 2002 feasibility study, BART and CCTA recommended diesel multiple unit trains that would operate in the median of State Route 4 and then travel southeast to Byron. This technology, called eBART, would provide an attractive, cost-effective option for the corridor. Passengers would transfer easily to BART at a transfer facility in Pittsburg. The proposed trains are used in New Jersey, Canada and throughout Europe.

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Phase I Proposed Project

In 2007 the eBART Partnership Policy Advisory Committee (ePPAC) identified a new Phase I Proposed Project, which can be constructed with the funding secured for the project. The Phase I Proposed Project consists of Diesel Multiple Unit technology running from a transfer station located just east of the Pittsburg/Bay Point platform and extending down the median of State Route 4. The stations would include Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg (prospectively to be funded by the City of Pittsburg) and a terminus station near Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch. Future phases could extend beyond Antioch to Oakley, Brentwood, Byron/Discovery Bay and beyond. Please click here to see the Phase I Proposed Project map

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Proposed Operating Characteristics

BART is developing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the eBART project extension. During this project development phase, BART is narrowing down the exact details of the project extension. The preferred alternative, as it is now proposed, will have the following operating characteristics:

Vehicles: Diesel multiple unit trains

BART/eBART Transfer: A video shows how passengers in the morning would transfer from a westbound eBART train using DMU technologies to a BART train at the Pittsburg / Bay Point BART station

Land Use Integration: Transit-friendly residential and employment opportunities around stations

Capital Costs: Estimated at $500 million

Implementation Time: Three to four years after the approval of the project

Stations: At-grade platforms with sheltered areas, bus service, parking and bike and pedestrian access

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Phase I Project Alternatives

During this project development phase, BART is studying three transportation alternatives: diesel multiple unit trains (eBART), conventional BART trains and a Bus Rapid Transit system.

Alternative 1: eBART

In the 2001/02 feasibility study, eBART was ranked as the preferred option. eBART would provide an attractive and cost-effective alternative transportation mode in traffic-congested East Contra Costa County. eBART would be less expensive and completed faster than a conventional BART option. This alternative does not rule out constructing conventional BART in the future in this same alignment.

Alternative 2: Conventional BART

Conventional BART to Hillcrest Avenue was considered less attractive when compared to other options due to significantly higher construction costs and a much longer construction timeline. Conventional BART trains would require special engineering for tracks and hardware, with a cost three times that of the eBART solution.

Alternative 3: Bus Rapid Transit

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a system of modern buses that run on dedicated bus lanes. BRT would emulate the quality and convenience of rail service with rail-type stations and possible express service. BRT was considered appealing because it is cheaper and quicker to build than the conventional BART train system.

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Project Timeline

Initial scoping meetings took place in July 2005, with additional meetings planned to gather community input on station planning. The Environmental Phase of this project will conclude with the approval of the final environmental impact report (EIR) and the adoption of the project at a public meeting.

The initial scoping period for environmental review of the eBART project closed on August 20, 2005. We are currently scheduling a second opportunity to submit scoping comments on the revised Phase I Proposed Project. Please sign up for our email list to receive official notification once scoping has begun. After that, the next opportunity to comment will be on the draft Environmental Review documents, which are scheduled to be available in Summer 2008. While the draft EIR documents are in preparation, the amount of information is limited.

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Project Funding

The eBART project has secured a total of $523 Million of funding from the following sources:

• Regional Measure 1
• Regional Measure 2 (RM-2)
• Contra Costa County’s Measure J
• Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP)
• Proposition 1B
• AB 1171
• the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority (ECCRFFA)

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