EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BART-San Francisco Airport Extension
Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Supplemental Draft Environmental
Impact Statement
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and the San
Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) are jointly proposing to extend BART rail transit
service to the vicinity of the San Francisco International Airport (SFIA). The project
corridor for this proposed extension is located in the larger nine-county region known as
the San Francisco Bay Area (see Figure S-1). The corridor encompasses the northern portion
of San Mateo County through the communities of Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno,
Millbrae, and Burlingame. The corridor generally follows the Southern Pacific
Transportation Company (SPTCo) San Bruno branch between Colma and San Bruno, and then
merges with the SPTCo mainline between San Bruno and Burlingame.
Project Background, Purpose, and Need
Is this Project a New Idea?
The BART-San Francisco Airport Extension has had a long history, dating
back to 1972, when the San Francisco Airport Access Project Report first
recommended the concept of bringing BART to the San Francisco International Airport
(SFIA). Over the past 22 years, a number of milestones have brought this important
regional connection closer to fruition. Table S-1 identifies some of the more significant
planning studies and milestones.
What is this Project Supposed to Accomplish?
Since its inception, the reasons for a BART connection to SFIA have
remained relatively constant: to provide a mass transit alternative for travelers along
the San Francisco Peninsula, particularly northern San Mateo County, and to provide
high-speed, efficient transit service between San Francisco, San Mateo County, and the
growing SFIA.
Why Do We Need This Project?
A number of circumstances underscore the need for this extension of
BART service. Highlighted below are the principal reasons why the project is being
advanced and why it is especially timely. |