MTC approves funding for Oakland Airport Connector project

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted 6-2 today to allocate all $20 million of this year's state transportation improvement funding to the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project.

The Oakland Airport Connector, once built, will replace the AirBART buses that often are bogged down by Hegenberger Road traffic, Coliseum sporting events, freight trains and accidents, all of which create great angst for anxious air travelers rushing to make their flights.

By contrast, the connector will be a far more relaxing ride.  The Automated People Movers (APMs) will offer swift, reliable world-class service because they will be all electric and run on a fixed, elevated guideway above the congestion.  The APMs will arrive at the Coliseum BART Station every 4.5 minutes and will quickly transport air travelers to the airport in 8 minutes and 12 seconds with an on-time performance exceeding 99%.
The local communities have fought in support of the OAC project for years.  Through extensive public outreach, the OAC project garnered voter approval and the support of the elected officials at MTC, Port of Oakland, Alameda County CMA, ACTIA and the City of Oakland.  This public process has been transparent from the outset.

The $484 million project is expected to create between 2,500 and 5,000 direct and indirect jobs during the three and a half year construction phase, which could begin as early as late 2010.