SamTrans announced June 6 that its board of directors will be working with Facebook and Plenary Group, an infrastructure developer, to look into how to advance projects on the Dumbarton Transportation Corridor – a project that could reopen the Dumbarton rail bridge for passenger service.
In 2016, Facebook funded a study by SamTrans on ways to ease congestion along the Dumbarton corridor, the findings of which the agency's directors approved last December.
John Tenanes, Facebook vice president of global facilities and real estate, said in a written statement, "This is one of many projects we are looking at to ease congestion in the Bay Area. … Being able to get around easily is important for people's quality of life and the local economy.”
SamTrans has been in talks with Facebook since January about this partnership.
According to Facebook spokesperson Anthony Harrison, the goal of the partnership is to look into the feasiblity of using the Dumbarton rail bridge to connect the East Bay to Silicon Valley.
"We're a big employer in the area," he said. "These problems are super-complicated, and we recognize we have a role in helping to solve the traffic and congestion probelms for the region."
The process is expected to take about 18 months, he said. The company's specific role in the partnership will become further defined in the months to come, he said.
In late November 2017, the San Jose Mercury News reported that Facebook had leased about 190,000 square feet of office space in Fremont, or enough space for about 950 workers.
In a written statement, Charles Stone, board chair of the San Mateo County Transit District, said, "As the local economy continues to boom, the unfortunate side effect is that traffic congestion has become one of the top issues facing our residents."
The study the agency approved recommended rebuilding the abandoned Dumbarton rail bridge to connect to existing commuting rail services on both sides of the Bay, boosting bus and ride-share options for commuters, and factoring in infrastructure and safety considerations for bicyclists and pedestrians. The study also determined it could be feasible to:
● By 2020, increase the frequency and number of destinations of transbay buses.
● By 2025, convert a traffic lane on the road bridge to either an express lane or a shifting lane that matches commute direction.
● By 2030, rebuild the abandoned rail bridge and activate a rail shuttle across the Bay to connect Redwood City to Union City.
It estimated the costs for those projects to be more than $1.8 billion by 2025, plus an additional $295 million to expand the rail service from Newark to Union City in the East Bay.
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Comments
Menlo Park: The Willows
on Jun 7, 2018 at 12:38 pm
on Jun 7, 2018 at 12:38 pm
I just saw a blurb somewhere that said that China finished a massive project there in 6 months.
This article states that: By 2030, the abandoned rail bridge near the Dumbarten. will be rebuilt. 2030-2018 is 12 years, something is wrong here.
another community
on Jun 7, 2018 at 1:53 pm
on Jun 7, 2018 at 1:53 pm
"On Tuesday, voters approved Regional Measure 3, which allocates $130 million for improvements to the Dumbarton Corridor."
Well...*technically* this is true. But keep in mind Regional Measure 2 (RM2) listed Dumbarton as a project as well, and at one point there was even some funding for Dumbarton rail. But the MTC violated RM2 requirements and defunded Dumbarton Rail. There's nothing currently stopping the MTC from doing it again.
RM3 listing a $130m commitment to Dumbarton means NOTHING. The MTC feels fully entitled to violate the legal requirements of the propositions as it sees fit.
I hope Facebook knows what its dealing with. Unless Facebook writes rock-solid contracts that represent its interests and vigorously enforces the contracts (and is willing to absorb the MTC's political spin when it inevitably stabs Facebook in the back), the MTC will repurpose any funding Facebook provides to anything it sees fit.
Considering the MTC is controlled by BART, SF and SJ, you can be sure any Facebook funding will go everywhere EXCEPT Dumbarton, unless Facebook is willing to go to the mat to represent its interests and ignore the political hits that will be coming.
I hope Facebook can be part of the solution for the Dumbarton gridlock, but I seriously doubt the MTC can be an honest partner in solving it.
Good luck.
Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jun 7, 2018 at 1:58 pm
on Jun 7, 2018 at 1:58 pm
china doesn't need to get the approval of NIMBY residents, nor endless studies nor funding discussions.
Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jun 7, 2018 at 4:25 pm
on Jun 7, 2018 at 4:25 pm
We need to find better ways to get employees to their jobs without private cars. Realistically, there is not enough road space or parking space left for more cars. Busses are great. Trains are great. Billions for new streets is wasted money.
Menlo Park: The Willows
on Jun 7, 2018 at 6:27 pm
on Jun 7, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Days after the Loma Prieta earthquake (1989), Caltrans added a third travel lane in each direction to the Dumbarton Bridge at the expense of bike lanes. 29 years later why should it take seven years to convert that existing travel lane to an express/HOV lane?