Recognizing need to relieve traffic congestion in East Contra Costa County, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) conducted a feasibility study in 2002 to look at the best transit options for East County residents. The study provided a comparison of three transportation alternatives: conventional BART trains, diesel multiple unit trains and a Bus Rapid Transit system. With input from community members in East Contra Costa County and technical staff, the diesel multiple unit trains option was clearly the early leader.
BART has formed a collaborative partnership with Contra Costa County, including the unincorporated communities of Byron and Discovery Bay, the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and Pittsburg, and Tri Delta Transit, the CCTA and MTC to help identify a rapid transit system in East Contra Costa County—eBART.
As part of the process, BART and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have commenced the eBART environmental review. In this review of the East Contra Costa BART Extension (2005–2007), alternatives, impacts and mitigation measures will be studied in detail. Community input will be important in the environmental evaluation.
The eBART project, which will add up to 23 miles to the BART system, must balance cost, technology, community needs and environmental benefits and impacts in order to provide high quality service to East Contra Costa County. Whichever transportation option is selected, service will be coordinated to allow for easy transfers to and from the BART system.
A Message from the ePPAC Committee Chair
East Contra Costa County is the fastest growing region in the Bay Area, with an expected 40,000 households and 63,000 jobs to be added by 2025. Now more than ever, residents and commuters need effective and convenient rapid transit to reduce congestion on our clogged roads.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is striving to provide frequent, reliable, high quality transit service in East County. An environmental review process is now underway to examine alternative transit systems, impacts and mitigation measures.
We invite you to stay informed and involved by signing up for project updates and announcements at www.ebartproject.org.
Joel Keller
Chair, eBART Partnership Policy Advisory Committee (ePPAC)
President, BART Board of Directors
