BART Extensions to Antioch, Livermore and Beyond

By Dan Richard

I support additional extensive transit connections to East County

I also support extending rail service to the South Bay, including San Jose. In each corridor, we should look at the appropriate service mode for the projected ridership and determine what is most cost-effective. But, all three communities are underserved and should get rail service.

If BART is extended to San Jose, should Santa Clara County be required to pay a "buy in" fee to connect to the existing system?

Of course BART service to San Jose must be paid for by those who would benefit and take into account the equity issues of serving outside the original BART counties. Any arrangement with San Jose and Santa Clara county needs to assure that they can secure the capital costs needed for construction, that they assume responsibility for the operating costs, that they mitigate any impacts on the exisitng system. Silicon Valley's political and financial clout can also help ensure that rail service to underserved areas of Contra Costa and Alameda counties is developed.