BART To Livermore Extension Project

Hang around Livermore long enough and you are bound to hear a sentence similar to this, “We have been paying taxes for BART for fifty years! And we still have no BART!” This common utterance is in fact the truth. Residents have been paying increased taxes that fund Bay Area Rapid Transit since 1962 when the original funding for the system was approved. And in the proposal for the original BART construction the extension to Livermore was shown as a future project. Obviously that extension has yet to come to fruition. Measure BB passed on November 4, 2014 allocates $400 million to study and fund the BART extension to Livermore after 50+ years of waiting.

Last Thursday, November 12th, I attended the “Isabel Neighborhood Plan Workshop” put on by the city of Livermore “Full Bart to Livermore” project. At this meeting many leaders of the project spoke about the progress that has been made and the plans for the future including the land use and development project that will accompany the potential BART extension.



Who spoke?

- Marc Roberts, City Manager of Livermore
- Bob Vinn, Project Manager for Bart to Livermore
- Lori Parks, Associate Planning Livermore


What are the main take-aways?

- Currently there is $400 million from measure BB and $150 million more secured by the city of Livermore for the extension project.

- Total cost to complete the extension project is $1.2 billion. 

- The shortfall in financing would likely come from MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Committee) and the federal government.

- Funds from these sources would have strings attached in the form of mandatory ridership and walkability requirements. (MTC’s Transit-Oriented Development Policy [Resolution 3434] establishes a minimum amount of planned and existing housing units close to the station in order for the extension project to be eligible for regional transportation funding. For transit extensions, both BART and MTC require local jurisdictions to prepare a community-supported land use, access, and parking plan for the proposed station area. http://www.cityoflivermore.net/citygov/cd/bart/bart_extension_project.asp)

- Right now there are three possible land uses plans for the Isabel Bart station. Alternative one which includes a walkable “Tech center” and one main neighborhood center. Alternative two which includes a neighborhood walkable/bike able loop and two neighborhood centers. Alternative three which incorporates elements of the other alternatives but has a different street configuration. (See the plans at the bottom of the page)

- A six story parking structure that would provide 3000 parking spaces is currently included in the plan. This amount of parking spaces would be among the highest at any BART station already in existence.

- The finished project would add 4000 housing units including townhomes, condos, and mixed use commercial and residential condos. All within walking distance (.5 miles) of the projected BART station.

- The finished project would provide the commercial space for 8500 new jobs including retail space and office space.

- Currently there is four possible projects under consideration by BART:
1.) Full BART to Isabel.
2.) Diesel BART to Isabel.
3. + 4.) Two plans for increased BART bus connectivity between Livermore and Dublin/Pleasanton. 

Here is a link to the details of the possible plans spelled out:
http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/liv


What where some of the main concerns of Livermore residents in attendance?

- Not enough planned parking.
Many in attendance voiced concerns that all of the 3000 parking spots would be quickly taken up by residents of the central valley and none would be left for Livermore residents.

- Too much housing, too many people.
Some in attendance including some who live close to Isabel in North Livermore did not like the proposed 4000 housing units and the fact that all of it would be what is considered “high density housing.” It seemed that these residents felt that this type of housing was not conducive to Livermore’s current character.


What is the potential project timeline and completion projection?

- The Full Bart to Livermore project should have a finalized plan by the end of 2016.
- BART and MTC should consider the project in 2017.
- Conservative estimates would have the project completed sometime between 2025 and 2027.


Want to get involved in the process?
http://www.cityoflivermore.net/citygov/cd/bart/get_involved.asp

 
Here is the visual representation of the three alternatives of the Isabel Neighborhood Plan:


Alternative 1: Main Street - Isabel Neighborhood Plan in Livermore, CA




Alternative 2: Two Centers - Isabel Neighborhood Plan in Livermore, CA




Alternative 3: Arroyo Plaza - Isabel Neighborhood Plan in Livermore, CA