BART Board to discuss earthquake and employee safety matters at night meeting
The BART Board of Directors meets Thursday, March 26, at 5 pm to consider topics including an overview of long term earthquake retrofitting needs of the Berkeley Hills Tunnel.
The meeting will be held in the BART Board Room at the Kaiser Center, located at 344 20th St. in Oakland (pedestrian access is on Webster Street between the CVS and 24 Hour Fitness) and will be streamed live at www.bart.gov/board. The full agenda is available to download as a PDF.
EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING
Experts from BART’s Earthquake Safety Program will present to Board members the first part of an engineering feasibility study for earthquake retrofitting of the Berkeley Hills Tunnel where it crosses the Hayward Fault. The presentation will address the seismic conditions of the tunnel and provide the Board with an overview of retrofit options. Also covered will be possible geological and seismic scenarios which may present themselves in the future. The item is informational only and the proposed retrofit alternatives will be discussed in detail at a future Board meeting.
EMPLOYEE SAFETY, CAP AND TRADE FUNDS, eBART, ART AT BART
The Board will also consider a number of other items of interest.
EMPLOYEE SAFETY: The Board will hear and discuss a presentation on BART’s initiatives and programs to enhance employee safety. Topics covered include employee training, safety drills, certificate programs, reward programs, and the Joint Union Management Health and Safety Committee.
CAP AND TRADE FUNDS FOR INCREASED CAPACITY: The Board will vote to adopt a resolution that is required in order for BART to receive California Low Carbon Transit Operations Program funds, which draws money from the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program. These funds are for transit projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility. BART would like to apply for the funds to help pay for a project which will allow BART to run longer trains during the peak commute. This potential project would add weekend train maintenance and rehabilitation shifts at the Hayward shop to help get more train cars into service. The direct result of the added crew would put an additional 13 cars into peak service by December 2016. The more trains we have on the rails, the fewer cars end up on freeways, resulting in a net drop in total carbon output. By adopting the resolution, BART may apply for nearly $1.6 million for this project. If the proposed weekend crew is selected as an eligible candidate, BART would match these funds with operating revenue to cover the total cost of $3.2 million. BART is also considering other budget initiatives to help get more train cars into service. Those efforts combined with this project could mean up to 24 additional cars available for peak commute.
eBART Pittsburg Center Station: The Board will vote to approve the Title VI/Environmental Justice Report for the eBART Pittsburg Center Station, which is proposed to be located in the center median of Highway 4 at Railroad Avenue in the City of Pittsburg as part of the eBART project to extend service to Antioch. The analysis found that the proposed project would not result in disproportionately high and adverse health and environmental impacts on minority or low income populations. The analysis identified benefits to the surrounding predominately minority and low income community, including improved access to transit and better mobility along the congested Highway 4 corridor. Construction of the foundation of the station is planned to start in spring 2015.
ART AT BART: The Board will be viewing a presentation on the role of art at BART and funding mechanisms and staffing options for the inclusion of art throughout the Transit District.
TAKE BART TO THE BOARD MEETING
The Kaiser Center Mall is easily accessible by BART- exit the 19th St. BART station in Oakland and make your way two blocks east on 20th St. / Thomas L Berkley Way, turn left on Webster. The entrance is located in between CVS and 24 Hour Fitness.