San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) long-erm efforts to reduce crowding and increase service will get a critical funding boost thanks to a $1.2 billion grant from the federal government.
BART announced Monday that the Federal Transit Administration had provided the district with the Full Funding Grant Agreement for BART’s Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program.
“This is a huge day for BART and anyone who needs to get across the Bay during commute hours,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “I want to personally thank Secretary Elaine Chao, FTA Acting Administrator Jane Williams, FTA Region IX Administrator Ray Tellis, FTA Executive Director Matt Welbes, and FTA staff. I also want to thank Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein; Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Bay Area Congressional Delegation; and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for their critical support and advocacy for this grant.”
The funding will be used to purchase 252 additional railcars, install and implement a new communications-based train control system that will allow more trains per hour through the Transbay Tube, construction of a new railcar storage yard, and construction of five new electrical substations in the San Francisco and East Bay to support the more frequent and longer trains.
“For residents of the Bay Area, BART is a vital service, central to the strength of our economy and our communities,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “With this commitment of $1.2 billion in federal funding for the Transbay Corridor Core Capacity initiative, BART will be able to increase the frequency of trains between San Francisco and the East Bay as well as grow capacity by 45 percent, improve service for millions of riders every year and maintain its position as a leading public transportation network. It was my privilege to join my Bay Area colleagues in Congress to ensure BART receives this essential capital grant as we continue to fight for needed transit funds in the Heroes Act to build on the $1.3 billion in transit support for the Bay Area we passed in the CARES Act. We remain committed to ensuring that all Bay Area workers, businesses, families, and visitors can continue to benefit and grow from BART’s essential service for generations to come.”