BART announced Friday that it will receive a $49 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency to further the development of improved pedestrian access, public spaces and other improvements at stations in Oakland and El Cerrito.
The grant from the state’s 2022 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, which provides grants to projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve urban commuter rail, bus and ferry systems, will support projects at the Lake Merritt, West Oakland and El Cerrito Plaza stations that will eventually lead to the development of more than 2,000 housing units across the three stations.
According to BART, at least 30 percent of the units will be offered below market rate.
“These investments will drive greenhouse gas emissions savings and reduce vehicle miles traveled by increasing ridership on BART at these sites,” BART General Manager Bob Powers said. “The developments will serve people of all income levels by linking housing affordability with access to opportunity.”
Roughly $13 million of the grant will be used to relocate a power supply at Lake Merritt station that is currently located in a building that will be demolished to build some 550 housing units across three buildings.
Another roughly $13 million will be used to construct a parking garage at El Cerrito Plaza, which will allow for the construction of up to 800 housing units on the station’s existing surface parking lots.
BART will also use $4.5 million of the grant to construct new bicycle infrastructure at West Oakland. A housing development at the station will eventually result in more than 750 units.
The $49 million will support the transit agency’s project to improve mobility options at its East Bay stations. The total project is expected to cost roughly $77 million, according to BART officials.
Of that budget, BART has secured matching local funding for roughly $28 million.
Would like to see the transparency of the allocated funds. For example, $4.5 million of the grant to construct new bicycle infrastructure at West Oakland. What is planned to be build with that money? Show me the progress along the way, then provide a final report. LIke, the initial goal of building X, Y and Z from the 4.5M grant is complete. All objectives achieved with some additional amenities not in the original scope of the project. ok, dream over….
Stop dreaming, Never Gonna Happen.
Any limitation to ensure the money doesn’t get rerouted to management bonuses and wage increases? Also seems like a waste since ridership is way down and may not rebound ever.
Does anyone else find this absolutely insane? Why would a transit agency be put in charge of housing development? And a transit agency that isn’t even good at their core mission. It’s not what they are meant for. Why doesn’t BART concentrate on making BART actually rideable?
BARF ridership is down, largely because they already provide free housing and transportation for the homeless and bums. Why were they rewarded with more of the tax paying community’s money?
Will be years before another history lesson is relearned.
Many years ago a Utopian fantasy was put into motion, ‘transit villages’ built around transit hubs negating need of personal motor vehicles. Rather than taking into account increased internet speeds and working from home this fantasy continues, helped along by legislation pushed by trade unions and builders.
Article conveniently doesn’t mention how TALL these transit village high rises will be. limited to 12 story
https://tinyurl.com/ytj47z8y
Long term building leases in SF will be expiring in next 18 months. Given increase in working from home, increased big city violence and crime don’t be surprised when news stories bemoaning decline in office occupancy.
What happens when YOU don’t provide ADULT SUPERVISION to DEMs you voted for.
This is not paid for by theTransit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. It’s paid for by tax paying workers and business owners.
More Money Laundering.
Property values of anyone in the vicinity of BARF just dropped.
F word. Many who either can’t afford parking (or) those who can’t find a spot already park in the neighborhoods… not always in a courteous manner. When the parking lots become apartments… life in the ‘burbs’ will get really interesting.
Perhaps they are realizing they are a failed idea and are diversifying. The world changed and now those San Francisco office workers want to work from home. The Salesforce tower just announced it will be leasing out 50% of its tower because they don’t need it. Don’t be surprised if later this year it is just a humongous Spirit Halloween store.
Why is BART in the housing business and transit villages? If nothing else, covid19 has demonstrated that remote work DOES work!
It’ll link “housing affordability with access to opportunity.”
Bull$hit! Just another pork project .
The “high density transit village” is the Newsom vision for California. Multiracial & LGBTQ all living together in perfect crime-ridden harmony. Which Gavin can observe at a safe distance from his mansion on the hill while marveling at his creation.
Reminds me of an old Carly Simon song.
They will end up like Cabrini Green where Candyman will come crawling out of the toilet. I dare you to say his name 3 times.
The Fearless Spectator Wow I guess you don’t even try to sound educated anymore. This site really has gone to hell in a handbasket. Making blanket statements like that only makes you sound ignorant.
If BART sells its land to build housing why do they also have to pay for a new garage? Why would they not make the builder build a garage? Walnut Creek Station was a true scam. They built a new garage but it’s private and not run by BART and costs twice as much.
They are also doing something at the Lafayette parking lot, I hear will be housing