Article last updated:
Monday, May 21, 2001 10:50 AM MST
Plan to slice $1.3 billion may affect extensions
By Mike White
STAFF WRITER
Transit officials are taking a closer look to see what, if any, effect
the governor's revised transportation plan will have on proposed
"baby" BART extensions to Livermore and Antioch.
In revising his $102.9 billion proposed budget, Gov. Gray Davis
suggested shifting $1.3 billion out of transportation in the fiscal
year starting July 1. He said another $1.2 million would be taken out
the following year.
The governor proposes putting the money back into transportation in
five years, creating unknown consequences for big projects such as the
BART-to-San Jose extension. The governor's office says these projects
are still on track under existing timelines, but some have suggested
the projects could be delayed by the governor's plan.
Officials also are trying to determine if the Davis' plan would have
any effect on the $7 million in funding the governor approved last
year for transportation feasibility studies in Alameda and Contra
Costa counties. A portion of the money is earmarked for studying the
proposed "tBART" extension to Livermore and the "eBART" line to
eastern Contra Costa county.
Ron Rodriguez, a BART spokesman for BART, said some aspects of the
governor's plan including eBART and tBART are under analysis.
"It's still being assessed to see if there is any impact," he said.
The money earmarked for tBART and eBART will actually go to each
county's respective Congestion Management Authorities rather than
BART.
Earlier this week, Alameda County Congestion Management Authority
Executive Director Dennis Fay said that $800 to $900 million in state
transportation money could be deferred, but not lost, as a result of
the governor's proposal.
He estimated his agency may lose $35 million less than expected.
Regardless of the immediate budget impact on the "baby" BARTs,
officials say the plans are still a long way away from reality. In
Contra Costa County, the idea is to run diesel-powered trains on the
existing Union Pacific lines from Bay Point to Antioch to Brentwood. A
study will also look at the possibility of extending the service to
Byron and Tracy.
In Livermore, tBART, using the same kinds of diesel-powered trains,
would most likely run on new tracks either north or south of
Interstate 580. The proposed tracks between the last BART stop in
Dublin/Pleasanton and Livermore are viewed as a temporary measure
until the main BART line is extended along Interstate 580 to
Livermore.
Both "baby" BARTs would cost at least $200 to $250 million each and
take three years to get running once funding is secured. By
comparison, the planned main extensions to Antioch and Livermore have
estimated price tags in the neighborhood of $900 million to $1
billion. Both projects are at least 10 years from completion.
Backers of the baby BART system, including Livermore Mayor Cathie
Brown, say it's a realistic proposal with a good chance of success in
the near future. She said recently that she hopes the tBART line in
particular does not suffer any delays as a result of the revised
transportation budget.
"We need the money. It is not frivolous spending. Davis has committed
to this project to study infrastructure issues. The quality of life in
this Valley depends on this money," she said.
Many cities in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, including Livermore,
endorsed the planning studies for eBART and tBART last month. The
proponents won out over those who suggested the smaller lines could
not handle the demand and would become permanent, dashing any hopes
for building the main extensions.
While the northern BART extensions may be in question, officials say
the planned San Jose extension is moving forward. The funding changes
would not hurt the project because the majority of funds are not
needed for several years, supporter said.
The governor has earmarked $760 million and Santa Clara voters agreed
last November to tax themselves $2 billion to help pay for it.
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