eBART

eBART

Test Stadler GTW idling at transfer point
Overview
Type Diesel light rail
System Bay Area Rapid Transit
Status Under construction
Locale East Contra Costa County
Termini Antioch
Pittsburg / Bay Point
Stations 3
Services 1
Operation
Opened May 2018 (2018-05) (projected)
Operator(s) San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Character grade separated in highway median
Rolling stock 8 Stadler GTW
Technical
Line length 10 mi (16 km)[1]
Number of tracks 2
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge[2]
Electrification No
Route map
Opening 2018
Legend
 Maintenance Yard
Antioch
Pittsburg Center

 Pittsburg/Bay Point–SFO/Millbrae 

Pittsburg/Bay Point

eBART (East Contra Costa BART Extension)[3][4] is an under-construction light rail branch line of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in eastern Contra Costa County, California, United States. The plan calls for diesel multiple unit (DMU) train service to be implemented from the existing Pittsburg/Bay Point station. Unlike the traditional rapid transit BART system which uses rails set to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge, eBART will be a standard gauge installation which does not utilize third rail power delivery,[2] thus creating a break-of-gauge. A cross platform interchange at Pittsburg/Bay Point will provide a connection between the two lines via an additional stop at that station – the eBART platform will only be accessible by an intra-station ride via BART's original electrified system. The first phase of the expansion will proceed for approximately 10 miles (16 kilometres) east along the State Route 4 corridor to the city of Antioch[1] at a Hillcrest Avenue station. Revenue service is projected to begin by May 2018.[5]

Planning

The DMU system was chosen as an alternative to the existing BART infrastructure because it was both less expensive to implement and would more easily allow further extensions.

Initial plans had trains utilizing the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way that runs parallel to State Route 4. After Union Pacific declined to grant trackage rights or allow laying of new tracks, the line was merged with a construction project already in the process of widening the adjacent freeway, by laying tracks in its median.[6] Construction of the Railroad Avenue station in Pittsburg became uncertain as planning and construction progressed; it has since been fully funded by the city and will open with the rest of the extension.[7]

Funding and construction

A sales tax increase was approved by Contra Costa voters in 2004 in order to fund the expansion.[5] The expansion was approved by the BART board in April 2009.[8] Costs were set at $463 million, compared to an estimated $1.2 billion for full BART buildout.[1] On October 14, 2010, BART issued a press release announcing that the agency had awarded a $26 million contract to West Bay Builders, of Novato, California, "to build the transfer platform and make some of the necessary rail improvements to begin extending the line to a terminus station at Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch."[9]

Construction began in early 2011.[4] Funding for the Pittsburg station was secured in early 2015.[7]

Future

While not fully planned or funded as of 2016, expansions of the DMU system could connect eBART service to Oakley, Brentwood, or Byron.[6][10]

Stations

Test DMU leaving central Pittsburg transfer point in the median of Highway 4 at sunset heading east to the Hillcrest Avenue, Antioch terminus

All eBART stations are in Contra Costa County.

Station City Opened Other BART
lines
Antioch Antioch 2018
Pittsburg Center Pittsburg 2018
Pittsburg / Bay Point Pittsburg 1996     

Rolling stock

The vehicle procurement includes eight Stadler GTW trains, with two options to procure six more; the first will be delivered in June 2016.[11] The Stadler GTW trains are diesel multiple units with 2/6 articulated power units, and are based on models previously used in Austin, Dallas and New Jersey.[2][12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Padilla, Dave (September 18, 2012). "BART Official Says eBART Rail Project Set To Open In 2016". KCBS SF Bay Area. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Stadler awarded eBART train contract". Railway Gazette. DVV Media UK. April 28, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ Roth, Rob. "BART unveils diesel-powered eBART Antioch extension". KTVU. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  4. 1 2 "East Contra Costa BART Extension (eBART)". Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). April 3, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Guevarra, Ericka Cruz (November 12, 2015). "Officials to Celebrate BART's Eastward Expansion in Contra Costa County". KQED. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Szymanski, Kyle. "eBART extension to Brentwood still a distant idea". The Press. Brentwood, California: Brentwood Press & Publishing. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Gartrell, Nate (January 22, 2015). "Pittsburg secures last piece of funding for eBART, expect new station in 2018". Contra Costa Times. Digital First Media. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "BART moves forward with $1 billion in extension projects". Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). April 27, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "BART Board approves contract on Eastern Contra Costa County extension". Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). October 14, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ CDM Smith. "eBART Next Segment Study" (pdf). Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  11. ↑ "East Contra Costa BART Extension (eBART) Implementation". Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). May 19, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Stadler Rail delivers trains to Oakland". Stadler Rail. April 26, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015.

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