New Milestone For Bus Rapid Transit Project Final Environmental Impact Report Ready For Public Review

Press Releases
02/03/2012

Community Meetings Planned, Too

The East Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has moved a step closer to reality with AC Transit’s announcement that the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the project is now available for public review and comment.

The publication of the FEIS/R provides the public and other interested parties an opportunity to learn about a project that promises to improve the speed and reliability of bus service in the 14-mile corridor from downtown Berkeley to the San Leandro BART station.

The BRT FEIS/R will be available for public review from February 3, 2012 to March 19, 2012. The document can be viewed at AC Transit headquarters, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland; online at http://www.actransit.org/planning-focus/projects-in-the-works/east-bay-bus-rapid-transit; and at public libraries in Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro.

A copy of the report can also be requested by calling (510) 891- 7175.

Along with this review process, AC Transit will also hold a series of community meetings to further inform the public about the project and elicit comments first-hand. The locations, dates and times for the meetings are listed below.

“This is a fantastic project that dramatically improves transit in a tightly congested corridor while stirring significant economic development in an area where it is most needed, ’’ said AC Transit Interim General Manager Mary King. “It will create many employment opportunities during its initial construction phase and beyond. With the new jobs– and the reductions in traffic congestion, commute times and ozone emissions– this is a wonderful project.  We are eager to showcase it and hear what the public thinks.”

The FTA has given AC Transit’s BRT the highest overall rating of any of the transit projects under consideration across the United States. Construction is expected to begin in 2014, and the system fully operational in 2016.

The community meetings will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the following locations:

OAKLAND
Fruitvale Senior Center–Thurs., February 23rd 
3301 E. 12th Street, Suite 201 Oakland, CA 94601

Eastside Arts Alliance–Mon., February 27th
2277 International Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94606

Havenscourt Campus–Wed., February 29th
1390 66th Avenue, Auditorium
Oakland, CA 94621

Oakland City Hall–Mon., March 5th
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 3
Oakland, CA 94612

Faith Presbyterian Church–Wednesday, March 7
430 49th Street
Oakland, CA 94609

Allen Temple Arms–Mon., March 12th
8135 International Boulevard, Multipurpose Room
Oakland, CA 94621

SAN LEANDRO
San Leandro City Hall–Thurs., March 1st 
835 East 14th Street, South Offices Conference Room
San Leandro, CA 94577

About Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

AC Transit’s vision is to provide a truly world-class transit service that is convenient, reliable and safe; one that increases mobility, enhances the quality of life, and improves the health of the environment throughout the communities it serves. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will link one of the busiest traffic corridors in the country with a fast, economical and environmentally-friendly means of transportation. BRT will be a high-capacity rapid transit system that reduces passenger travel times. With dedicated lanes and signal priority, and prominent stations with convenient boarding of buses, BRT will offer residents a viable alternative to driving on congested city streets. It will reduce traffic levels, significantly cutting emissions and pollutants. BRT is essentially light rail without the tracks. It combines the express service and capacity of light rail with the convenience and affordability of riding the bus. It can be planned and built at much less expense, and more quickly, than traditional light rail systems.

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