BART airport extension ready - Transit Update - Brief Article

Railway Age, June, 2003

After months of delays, BART has announced that the 8.7-mile, four-station extension to San Francisco International Airport will start carrying passengers on June 22. The opening was projected for the end of 2001 when work began in 1997 but a series of delays related to environmental concerns, including the deaths of endangered garter snakes, and construction problems repeatedly pushed back completion. Finally, on April 14, contractor Tutor-Saliba/Slattery formally transferred the line to BART, which then began crew training and operational testing that was scheduled to last about nine weeks. "We're sure the opening date is going to stick," said BART General Manager Tom Margro.

In related news, BART's $1.2 billion, 10-year Systemwide Renovation Program is 93% complete just seven-and-a-half years after it began, according to a statement released by the transit agency. Already finished is the renovation of all 439 original, 30-year-old Rohr Industries cars, 114 of 120 escalators, 60 passenger elevators, and 20 stations. All four maintenance facilities have been renovated and expanded, and new, easier-to-use fare collection equipment is being provided, a job that should be finished in about a year. Also to be completed is installation of new 1,000-volt traction power equipment. The refurbishment, the cost of which was financed largely from increased fares, has resulted in improved productivity and reduced maintenance requirements.