A Better Connector

TransForm believes there is a better and much more affordable alternative to the Oakland Airport Connector as currently proposed, called RapidBART. Despite what they continue to tell the public, BART has never studied a true Bus Rapid Transit option, one that can bypass traffic.

The RapidBART service would:

• Cost dramatically less, as much 90% less to build.
• Better serve the community by including as stop on Hegenberger.
• Use some of the existing funds dedicated to building the Oakland Airport Connector to make service free to riders in perpetuity.
• Have about the same door-to-door travel times.
• Have higher ridership than the Connector. TransForm estimates a ridership benefit of over 2000 passengers per day, largely due to the free fare and the additional station.
• Stop in front of any future terminals at almost no cost.
• Keep BART from incurring any debt or risk.
• Allow BART and agencies across the region to use Recovery Act funds to save jobs and service this year. BART would be able to use other savings to improve seismic safety or fill other critical needs.

The full report can be downloaded here, and below are some questions you might have that are answered in the report.

How will RapidBART run more quickly than the current AirBART bus?

One delay of AirBART is the loading of passengers, as many people go one by one through the front door, fumble for the correct change, and move slowly with luggage. RapidBART would have multiple doors for loading and unloading, just like BART does. Better yet, it could be free, which would allow for quicker boarding.

The other delays on AirBART are caused by getting stopped at traffic signals and getting stuck in car traffic. Signals can be dealt with using signal prioritization, which can keep a light green until RapidBART passes through. Navigating past traffic can be accomplished by using right hand queue jump lanes. Often, traffic gets backed up at intersections:

A queue jump lane would allow RapidBART to enter the right turn lane, crossing the intersection before car traffic can move, and then merging back into the mixed flow lane:

Queue jump lanes would be placed at most intersections throughout the route. Then, when RapidBART reached Airport Drive, it would enter its own dedicated bus lane.

How much cheaper would RapidBART be to build, compared to OAC?

A lot. OAC would cost $550 million while RapidBART is projected to cost $45-$60 million. That’s a savings of $500 million!

What could be done with the savings?

The $70 million of stimulus funds would be reallocated back to the transit agencies, including BART, which would receive $15 million that could be used to halt some of their service cuts and/or fare increases. (AC Transit, Muni, and other agencies could do the same with their shares.)

Other funds could be used to subsidize fares so that the system would be free:

In particular, TransForm has suggested that BART could request the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to shift the $65 million of Regional Measure 2 funds designated for the Oakland Airport Connector into an annual operating revenue source.

Where would RapidBART stop?

The first stop would be at the Coliseum BART station, in an enclosed area underneath the BART platform. It would then head down Hegenberger and stop somewhere in between BART and the airport. TransForm proposes stopping at Pardee and Hegenberger, but RapidBART is easily adjustable. As business grows in the area, a RapidBART station could be moved for a small cost, or another intermediary stop could be built.

At the airport, RapidBART would stop at both terminals, where the AirBART currently stops. The total walk time to either of the terminals would be 2 minutes. The overhead OAC, on the other hand, would stop in between the terminals and passengers would have to walk down to street level and across parking lots. TransForm estimates that this would take 3 minutes. However, when Oakland Airport builds a third terminal, it will take 7-8 minutes to walk to this new terminal from OAC. It would be easy and cheap to build a third RapidBART station so the time it would take to walk to a third terminal from RapidBART would also be just 2 minutes.

What would the RapidBART schedule be?

The RapidBART would operate the same hours as BART and would have 4-10 minute headways depending on the time of day.