BART opens Pittsburg/Antioch extension

Railway Age, Jan, 1997

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) completed the first expansion of its original system in 20 years with the opening of 7.8 miles of new double-track main line serving new stations at North Concord/Martinez and Pittsburg/Bay Point (pictured at right).

The communities served by the extension participated with state and local agencies in planning the route as well as in designing elements for the new stations and parking lots. The $506 million project was financed by state and local funds, including a half-penny from area sales taxes, regional bridge tolls, and California Transportation Commission funds.

Much of the Pittsburg/Antioch extension uses the medians of the Port Chicago Highway and Highway 4. The extension opened ahead of schedule on Dec. 7, 1996 with the dedication of the Pittsburg/Bay Point station, situated at the end of the line and in the median of Highway 4. Pittsburg/Bay Point includes a 2,000-space parking lot on the south side of the freeway and a pedestrian overpass for access.