Advocates demand public information on $492 million project ---  

BART is unnecessarily rushing a decision on the Oakland Airport Connector without sufficient disclosure or time for public review, according to a statement from advocacy group TransForm. “None of the important details about the project have been revealed…” and… “ridership would be so low on such a system, combined with the lengthy walks required by this system that BART needs to update its ridership and fare figures before moving forward.”

The OAC project is an elevated transit link that would run 3.2 miles to the Oakland International Airport from BART’s Coliseum Station. The OAC is proposed to cost $492 million and will likely charge a one-way fare of close to $6. The project will replace the existing AirBART bus system which charges a fare of $3 and covers 100% of its operating costs from fares.

TransForm and other advocates are concerned that BART issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) that did not reflect the actual details that led decision-makers and the public to approve the project.  This included much slower allowable speeds and longer walks. TransForm staff are claiming it is bizarre for the details of the winning bid to not be released until after a contract for the half-billion dollar project is signed and approved.  “This is what the smoked-filled back rooms of the 21st century look like. These are our tax dollars, riders may be getting huge fare increases, but BART is saying get out of the way.” said John Knox White, Program Director for TransForm.

“TransForm is requesting that the BART Board ask for more time to make a decision so that key elements of this proposal can be analyzed and understood before moving forward with this hugely expensive project,” said Knox White. “MTC has recently granted funding extensions for freeway projects in our area, we expect that they would give BART the same courtesy to ensure that the OAC meets the real transportation needs of our region.” 

The Oakland City Council voted last week to add three conditions to their support for the project, including, “BART shall conduct a meaningful, timely evaluation of the impact of the project's fare rates with regard to their affordability for working people.”

In a letter outlining the conditions, council member Ignacio de la Fuente wrote, “I want to reiterate the council’s position, that we support this project only if it incorporates these three important issues into the current project.”