Project Background
The eBART Project represents the first phase of a plan to extend service into East County. The eBART Project provides a cost-effective solution that allows for BART to begin construction soon for an extension to Antioch, and a close transit station for the rest of east Contra Costa County. The eBART Project will provide East County with frequent, reliable, and high quality transit service and will connect the growing region of East Contra Costa County with areas already served by BART.
BART has completed an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the eBART project that was approved by the BART Board in April 2009. The Proposed Project evaluated in the EIR consists of Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) vehicle rail transit technology running eastward 10 miles in the median of State Route 4 from from a transfer platform at the existing Pittsburg/Bay Point station to a terminus station in Antioch. In addition to the transfer station, new stations are proposed near Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg and near Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch. Final Design and funding arrangements for implementing the project are currently underway in cooperation with Caltrans and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
The cities of Antioch and Pittsburg have prepared Ridership Development Plans (RDPs) for their communities in the form of Specific Plans. The RDPs are comprehensive station area plans that analyze land use and access to the proposed station sites.These plans focus on the area within the half-mile radius around the proposed eBART stations.
Comment from a resident:
"My wife and I bought a house in Antioch a little over 3 years ago anticipating that BART would have been extended into Antioch by the time that we moved into our home. Taking BART in Pittsburg is great but it would be even better if it was in Antioch. In the morning at 5:00 AM, it takes us 30 - 45 minutes to travel 10 miles on Highway 4 to get to BART. That is an awful commute that should only take 10 - 15 minutes. If they extend BART to Antioch it would only take us probably 5 minutes from our house to get to BART.
Every morning when we arrive at the BART station the trains are full with commuters - the demand is there. The extension of BART into Antioch will also lesson traffic on Highway 4, which is the worst in the Bay Area. The demand is there. eBART also will help the environment to get people to use mass transit instead of sitting in their cars for hours trying to get home. Please help us by extending BART into Antioch."
– Antioch Resident comment on the eBART Draft EIR
Last Updated: February 23, 2010
