eBART

{{Expand section|Commentary and criticism on decisions to use different gauge and rolling stock, placement in freeway median, and funding of Pittsburg Center station|date=January 2018}}

A feasibility study which completed in 2001 proposed an extension of BART service into eastern Contra Costa County using diesel multiple units (DMU) on standard gauge track in an existing rail right-of-way, to reduce costs compared to full BART service (grade-separated broad-gauge track).{{rp|2.1}} It was estimated the cost of extending conventional BART would be up to 2{{frac|2}} times the cost of an equivalent service using DMUs over the same distance.{{cite report |url=https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc/environmental |chapter=Summary |chapter-url=https://www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/docs/000_Summary.pdf |title=East Contra Costa BART Extension Draft EIR |author=PBS&J |date=September 2008 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |access-date=14 March 2025}} Because commercially available DMUs could not meet Federal Railroad Administration crash standards, they would need to be separated from freight rail, either by operating on an exclusive set of tracks or at exclusive times during the day.{{rp|2.2}} A key requirement of the extension ensured that broad-gauge BART could be constructed in the future using the new structures that would be built.{{rp|2.1}}

Initial plans published in 2002 proposed DMU trains would run in the median of California State Route 4 east of the existing terminus at Pittsburg/Bay Point in an area reserved for BART expansion, then the tracks would cross the freeway via an aerial structure at Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to continue east along the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way (ROW) for its Tracy Subdivision, also known as the Mococo Line (after the MOuntain COpper COmpany), which runs parallel to and between SR 4 (to the south) and the BNSF Stockton Subdivision (to the north) from Martinez to Oakley.{{cite report |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417232259/https://www.ebartproject.org/docs.php |title=SR 4 East Corridor Transit Study: Summary Report |author=Wilbur Smith Associates |date=December 12, 2002 |chapter=2: Description of the Project |chapter-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721062308/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000167/Chapter%202%20Description%20of%20the%20Project.pdf}}{{rp|2.2}}{{cite report |url=https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2686/TWIC-Agenda_9-29-08-Item_3-A |title=Potential reactivation of Mococo freight railroad line |first=John |last=Greitzer |date=September 29, 2008 |publisher=Contra Costa County Department of Conservation & Development}} At Oakley, eBART would turn southeast, continuing to follow the ROW of the UPRR Tracy Subdivision, terminating at Byron.{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mfAlAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2&article_id=6111,5861244 |title=BART eyes new station for little 'ol Byron |first=Malcolm |last=Maclachlan |date=June 23, 2005 |newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel |access-date=13 March 2025}} The existing freight rail line would be relocated within the right-of-way to accommodate double-track eBART service.{{rp|2.2}} At the time, the Mococo Line was largely inactive, used to store freight cars.

The initial proposal also planned to build five stations over a system length of {{cvt|23|mi}}, each located near where the Mococo Line crosses the following streets:{{rp|2.3;2.4}}

• Somersville Road (Pittsburg/Antioch)
• Hillcrest Avenue (Antioch){{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000292/CCTimesThuNov24_2005.pdf |title=Officials fret over eBART parking |first=Sarah Jane |last=Tribble |date=November 24, 2005 |newspaper=Contra Costa Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720105621/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000292/CCTimesThuNov24_2005.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead}}
• Empire Avenue (Oakley){{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000290/CCTimesFriAug5.pdf |title=Questions remain over scale of eBART in East County |first=Rowena |last=Coetsee |date=August 5, 2005 |newspaper=Contra Costa Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719224641/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000290/CCTimesFriAug5.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2006 |url-status=dead}}
• Central Avenue (Brentwood){{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000293/CCTimesThuNov18_2005.pdf |title=City selects site for eBart station |first=Tanya |last=Rose |newspaper=Contra Costa Times |date=November 18, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720140022/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000293/CCTimesThuNov18_2005.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead}}
• Downtown Byron{{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000303/CC%20Times%20Tues%20Feb%2028%202006%20Downtown%20Byron%20likely%20to%20get%20eBART%20station.pdf |title=Downtown Byron likely to get eBART station |first=Rebecca |last=Rosen Lum |date=February 28, 2006 |newspaper=Contra Costa Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720140409/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000303/CC%20Times%20Tues%20Feb%2028%202006%20Downtown%20Byron%20likely%20to%20get%20eBART%20station.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead}}

By 2005, a sixth station had been added in Pittsburg (at Railroad Avenue, in the median of SR 4){{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000340/Public%20weighs%20in%20on%20Pittsburg%20eBART%20station%20plan%206_8_06.pdf |title=Public weighs in on Pittsburg eBART station plan |first=Laurie |last=Phillips |date=June 8, 2006 |newspaper=Contra Costa Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720071044/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000340/Public%20weighs%20in%20on%20Pittsburg%20eBART%20station%20plan%206_8_06.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead}} and the Somersville Road station had been relocated east to the Antioch Fairgrounds near L Street.{{cite web |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000242/atAGlanceWeb.pdf |title=eBART at-a-glance 2005 |publisher=eBART Partnership Policy Advisory committee |date=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721000948/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000242/atAGlanceWeb.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000318/eBART_pulls_closer_to_fairgrounds_03_24_2006.pdf |title=eBART pulls closer to fairgrounds |first=Rowena |last=Coetsee |date=March 24, 2006 |newspaper=Contra Costa Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720205719/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000318/eBART_pulls_closer_to_fairgrounds_03_24_2006.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead}}

After Union Pacific declined to grant trackage rights or allow laying of new tracks, the planned route was merged with a construction project already in progress for SR 4, with tracks to continue east of Loveridge in its median. UP declared it needed the Mococo Line to relieve freight traffic on the Martinez Subdivision. The SR 4 Bypass project widened the freeway and extended it to the east by adding a bypass for local streets in Brentwood and Antioch.{{cite news |url=http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000301/BW_BYPASS_EBART.pdf |title=Bypass, eBART among traffic plans |first=Tanya |last=Rose |date=January 13, 2006 |newspaper=Brentwood News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720105612/http://ebartproject.org:80/docManager/1000000301/BW_BYPASS_EBART.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://sr4bypass.org/Information/Projectinfo_general.htm |title=Project Information |website=State Route 4 Bypass Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027050646/http://sr4bypass.org/Information/Projectinfo_general.htm |archive-date=October 27, 2008 |url-status=dead}} By the time the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for eBART was published in 2008, the initial proposed phase had been scaled back to two stations, retaining an intermediate stop in Pittsburg (Railroad Ave) and shifting the planned terminus to Antioch (Hillcrest Ave), along with a transfer platform near the existing Pittsburg/Bay Point station;{{cite report |url=https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc/environmental |title=East Contra Costa BART Extension Draft EIR |author=PBS&J |chapter=2: Project Description |chapter-url=https://www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2.0_Project_Description.pdf |date=September 2008 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |access-date=14 March 2025}} the DEIR also included alternative locations for the Phase I terminal station in Antioch (Hillcrest Ave), which would preserve plans for a planned extension east and south from Antioch along the Mococo Line right-of-way.{{rp|2.23}}

Daily ridership was initially projected at 3,900{{rp|2.34}} to 5,600 entrances and exits per weekday, assuming an opening date of 2015, rising to 10,100 by 2030, with planned service headways of 15 minutes. Total travel time would be 13 minutes from the transfer platform to Antioch (Hillcrest), including a 3 minute dwell at the transfer platform and a 1 minute stop at Pittsburg (Railroad Ave).{{rp|2.34;2.35}} It was estimated that a single DMU rail car has a fuel consumption of {{cvt|{{#expr:1/0.725 round 2}}|mpgUS|l/100km}}.{{cite report |url=https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc/environmental |title=East Contra Costa BART Extension Draft EIR |author=PBS&J |chapter=3.15: Energy |chapter-url=https://www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/docs/3.15_Energy.pdf |date=September 2008 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |access-date=14 March 2025}}{{rp|3.15-9}}

Alternatives studied included bus rapid transit using dedicated lanes, overhead (catenary) electric light rail vehicles, and standard BART trains.{{cite report |url=https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc/environmental |title=East Contra Costa BART Extension Draft EIR |author=PBS&J |chapter=5: Alternatives |chapter-url=https://www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/docs/5.0_Alternatives.pdf |date=September 2008 |publisher=San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District |access-date=14 March 2025}} Compared to the proposed $486 million cost to implement eBART with DMUs, a similar BRT service would cost $393–611 M, depending on the options selected; LRV $528 M; and BART $1173 M.{{rp|5.21;5.28;5.35}}

File:EBART transfer platform, February 2018.JPG

A sales tax increase was approved by Contra Costa voters in 2004 in order to fund the expansion.{{cite news |last = Guevarra |first = Ericka Cruz |title = Officials to Celebrate BART's Eastward Expansion in Contra Costa County |url = http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/11/12/cities-celebrate-barts-eastward-expansion-in-contra-costa-county |work = KQED |date = November 12, 2015 |access-date = May 27, 2016 }} The expansion was approved by the BART board in April 2009.{{cite web |url = http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2009/news20090427 |title = BART moves forward with $1 billion in extension projects |publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |date = April 27, 2009 |access-date = July 15, 2014 }} Costs were set at $463{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{inflation|US|463000000|2009}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}), compared to an estimated $1.2{{nbsp}}billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{inflation|US|1200000000|2009}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}) for full BART buildout. On October{{nbsp}}14, 2010, BART issued a press release announcing that the agency had awarded a $26{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{inflation|US|26000000|2010}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}) contract to West Bay Builders, of Novato, "to build the transfer platform and make some of the necessary rail improvements to begin extending the line to a terminus station at Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch."{{cite web |url = http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2010/news20101014 |title = BART Board approves contract on Eastern Contra Costa County extension |publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |date = October 14, 2010 |access-date = July 15, 2014 }}

Construction on the line began in early 2011.{{cite web |url = http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc/ |title = East Contra Costa BART Extension (eBART) |publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |date = April 3, 2013 |access-date = August 12, 2015 }} Construction of the Railroad Avenue station in Pittsburg had been uncertain as planning and construction progressed but it was fully funded by the city in early 2015,{{cite news |last1 = Gartrell |first1 = Nate |title = Pittsburg secures last piece of funding for eBART, expect new station in 2018 |url = http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_27367240/pittsburg-secures-last-piece-funding-ebart-expect-new |work = Contra Costa Times |publisher = Digital First Media |date = January 22, 2015 |access-date = November 18, 2015 |archive-date = March 5, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012800/http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_27367240/pittsburg-secures-last-piece-funding-ebart-expect-new |url-status = dead }} and opened in 2018 along with the rest of the extension.

Revenue service began on May 26, 2018. The new stations reached 7,441 daily customer entrances and exits within the first three workdays, while ridership and parking levels at the previous terminal, Pittsburg/Bay Point, declined.{{cite news |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11672057/barts-new-antioch-station-is-very-popular-and-doesnt-have-enough-parking |title=BART's New Antioch Station Is Very Popular -- and Doesn't Have Enough Parking |newspaper=KQED |date=June 1, 2018 |first=Dan |last=Brekke |access-date=June 2, 2018}} Its design and operation, the result of several compromises, were criticized by Streetsblog.{{Cite web|date=2018-06-06|title=Editorial: Impressions of BART's New Line to Antioch|url=https://sf.streetsblog.org/2018/06/05/editorial-impressions-of-barts-new-line-to-antioch/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Streetsblog San Francisco|language=en-US}}

While not fully planned or funded {{as of|2018|lc=yes}}, proposals have been advanced to extend the eBART line to Oakley, Byron,{{cite news |last1 = Szymanski |first1 = Kyle |title = eBART extension to Brentwood still a distant idea |url = http://www.thepress.net/news/ebart-extension-to-brentwood-still-a-distant-idea/article_475ae892-d342-11e4-bba6-13c2415a5c92.html |work = The Press |location = Brentwood, California |publisher = Brentwood Press & Publishing |access-date = May 27, 2016 }} or the Brentwood Transit Center in Brentwood.{{cite news|title=BART: Board vote brings commuter rail closer to Brentwood|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/12/bart-board-vote-brings-commuter-rail-closer-to-brentwood/|access-date=15 May 2017|work=The Mercury News|date=12 May 2017}} During the planning phase for Antioch station, it was noted that any potential extension along the median of SR 4{{cite web |author = CDM Smith |title = eBART Next Segment Study |url = http://www.bart.gov/sites/default/files/docs/eBART%20Next%20Segment%20Final_013015_2.pdf |publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |access-date = January 19, 2016 }} is feasible only to Balfour Road in Brentwood without further widening of the freeway; by acquiring a right-of-way adjacent to the Mococo Line, service could be extended to Laurel Road in Brentwood.

In 2017, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission indicated that eBART could be extended to Tracy, where it would connect with the Altamont Corridor Express and the proposed Valley Link line.{{cite web |url=http://www.wheelsbus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Altamont-DMU-Study-170308_ver1_1slide-per.pdf |title=Altamont DMU Study: March 2017 |date=March 8, 2017 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |page=3}} An extension to Tracy is possible only if rights to share the Mococo Line right-of-way are acquired from UPRR. This would create a transit loop connecting the current eastern termini of the BART Yellow (Pittsburg/Bay Point) and Blue (Dublin/Pleasanton) lines.{{cite report |url=https://www.antiochca.gov/community-resources-transportation/hillcrest-ebart-station-area-specific-plan-draft-eir/ |title=Hillcrest Station Area Specific Plan |chapter=2: Background |chapter-url=https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/community-development/planning/ebart-Hillcrest-Station-DEIR-Plan/Draft%20Specific%20Plan/Plan%20Chapters/2%20Background.pdf |author=Dyett & Bhatia |date=January 2009 |publisher=City of Antioch |access-date=18 March 2025}}

File:EBART test DMU leaving central Pittsburg transfer point.jpg

{{Main|List of Bay Area Rapid Transit stations}}

All eBART stations are in Contra Costa County.

{{See also|Bay Area Rapid Transit rolling stock#eBART fleet}}

Trains servicing the line include eight Stadler GTW coupled pairs. The first were delivered in June 2016, and the agency has two options to procure six more sets.{{cite web |url = http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/ecc/implementation |title = East Contra Costa BART Extension (eBART) Implementation |publisher = Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |date = May 19, 2015 |access-date = August 9, 2015 }} The Stadler GTW trains are diesel multiple units with 2/6 articulated power units, and are based on models previously used in Austin (Capital MetroRail), Denton (A-train), and New Jersey (River Line).{{cite magazine |title = Stadler awarded eBART train contract |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/stadler-awarded-ebart-train-contract.html |magazine = Railway Gazette |publisher = DVV Media UK |date = April 28, 2014 |access-date = November 18, 2015 |archive-date = November 20, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120024335/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/stadler-awarded-ebart-train-contract.html |url-status = dead }}{{cite web |url = http://www.stadlerrail.com/en/news/2014/04/26/stadler-rail-delivers-trains-to-oakland/ |title = Stadler Rail delivers trains to Oakland |publisher = Stadler Rail |date = April 26, 2014 |access-date = August 9, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102100/http://www.stadlerrail.com/en/news/2014/04/26/stadler-rail-delivers-trains-to-oakland/ |archive-date = March 4, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}

{{clear}}

• Light rail in the United States

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category||eBART}}

{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}

• {{official website}}

{{Bay Area Rapid Transit}}

{{USCommRail}}

{{Portal bar|San Francisco Bay Area|Trains|Transport}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Bay Area Rapid Transit

Category:Antioch, California

Category:Bay Point, California

Category:Brentwood, California

Category:California railroads

Category:Light rail in California

Category:Pittsburg, California

Category:Public transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area

Category:Railway lines in highway medians

Category:Railway lines opened in 2018

Category:Standard-gauge railways in the United States

Category:Transportation in Contra Costa County, California

Category:Railway branch lines

Category:2018 establishments in California