SF Bay Area: BART's reduced service hours allowed for acceleration of infrastructure projects

[marmar]

A silver lining – perhaps the only silver lining - to a global pandemic can be found within the Measure RR Bond Oversight Committee’s fourth annual report, which found reduced service hours helped Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) accelerate work on its massive Measure RR system rebuilding program.

Measure RR is a $3.5 billion bond measure that was approved by voters in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties in 2016. The report examines the progress made on BART’s rebuilding efforts in each of the major program categories including Track, Power Infrastructure, Tunnels and Structures, Mechanical, Station Modernization, Station Access and Relieve Crowding.

BART is more than 25 percent complete with work included in the Measure RR program, which the report says exceeds projections made by the transit system when Measure RR was put before voters. At the end of March 2021, approximately $866 million of Measure RR funds have been invested, 126 rebuilding projects were in the planning, design or construction phases and an additional 22 projects are complete.

Highlights of the work include:

• The replacement of 34 miles of worn rail.

• The replacement of 31 track switches.

• The installation of 27 miles of 34.5kV electrical cable to ensure trains have a reliable source of power.

• Platform edges at seven stations have been upgraded to improve safety.

• The enhancement of 58 miles of third rail coverboards, which reduce failures that cause train delays.

• BART has completed four major station modernization and station access projects.

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https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21231601/report-barts-reduced-service-hours-allowed-for-acceleration-of-infrastructure-projects