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Project Background
The Concord line opened for transbay service in 1974 and originally provided service between Concord and Daly City stations. In 1996 the Concord line was expanded with the addition of three new BART stations: North Concord/Martinez and Pittsburg/Bay Point in Contra Costa County, and Colma in San Mateo County. In 2003 the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Extension was completed and added four more stations to the BART system: South San Francisco, San Bruno, SFO and Millbrae.
Because the Pittsburg/Bay Point-SFO line is so heavily traveled, problems with disabled trains can cause delays that affect the entire system. BART has studied a range of potential improvements to the Pittsburg/Bay Point-SFO line to increase reliability and efficiency.
In October 2002 BART completed the Pleasant Hill/Richmond Crossover Study, which evaluated the impacts of adding two new crossover tracks between Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek stations. The study identified benefits from the new crossovers, which include:
- Increased train frequency and reduced wait times.
- Additional seating capacity during peak hours.
- Reduced system delays.
- Improved maintenance and allocation of resources.
The project, formally known as the Central Contra Costa County Crossover Project, completed its Environmental Review and was adopted by the BART Board of Directors in March 2006.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the Crossover Project is to add special track work between Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill stations to allow trains to cross from one track to the other track. The original BART system track plan provided two parallel trackways between Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill stations. Currently, the closest existing crossovers to the project site are near Lafayette Station, and between Pleasant Hill Station and Concord Yard. This deficiency reduces operational flexibility. It also requires BART to turn back trains at Concord Station instead of the desired location in Pleasant Hill.
Project Benefits
Increased train frequency and reduced wait times – Current train operating plans require most Concord line trains to proceed to Pittsburg/Bay Point Station, the end of the line, but as many as six peak-period trains terminate their runs at Concord Station. This is known as "short-turning." Short-turn trains provide increased seating capacity for Oakland- and San Francisco-bound passengers in Walnut Creek or Pleasant Hill, rather than having trains continue all the way to Pittsburg/Bay Point with decreasing passenger loads. This project will allow the short-turn of trains in Pleasant Hill.
Additional seating capacity during peak hours – A new crossover south of Pleasant Hill Station will enable trains to cross from the northbound to the southbound trackway and reverse at the station platform, instead of continuing on to Concord Station. This will reduce peak-period car requirements by one 10-car train. The train saved can be redeployed to increase peak-period service.
Reduced system delays – A major benefit of the Crossover Project is increased efficiency in delay recovery during daily service. Currently, if a train is disabled between Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill stations, there is no efficient way to reroute following trains around the disabled vehicles. Providing a pathway around a disabled train will enable BART to quickly reroute trains and minimize delays to passengers, speeding the system's return to normal service.
Improved maintenance and allocation of resources – More short-turn trains result in fewer car hours and car miles, and reduce operating costs and wear-and-tear on BART vehicles. Additionally, the crossovers will improve maintenance access to the system by increasing single-tracking capability.
Project Location
The Crossover Project is located on a portion of the BART alignment between Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek stations, adjacent to Interstate Highway 680 (I-680) and slightly southeast of the I-680/Geary Road/Treat Boulevard interchange. The project site is within the City of Walnut Creek and a portion is adjacent to a small, unincorporated portion of Contra Costa County.
The project site is bound by I-680 and the City of Walnut Creek's corporation yard to the west, Jones Road to the east, Treat Boulevard to the north and Parkside Drive to the south.
The Crossover Project.
Project Schedule Milestones
BART anticipates the following project timeline:
- Preliminary Engineering Completion – December 2005
- Environmental Assessment Completion – March 2006
- Final Design Completion and Advertisement of Construction Contract – July 2008
- Notice to Proceed with Construction – August 2009
- Construction Completion – July 2011
- Start of Operations – 2012
Funding
Regional Measure 2 will provide $25 million for the Crossover Project. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) disperses the funds on a per-phase basis. BART also applied $13 million from funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to the project. The project has been broken into four phases for funding:
- Phase 1: Environmental Study and Preliminary Engineering $1.2 million
- Phase 2: Final Design Plans and Specifications $2.9 million
- Phase 3: Right-of-Way (encroachment fees, lay down area) $0.5 million
- Phase 4: Construction $33.3 million
Total: $38 million
Note: Numbers are rounded to a single decimal point.
Last Updated: February 29, 2012
