As local and state transit agencies vote on more funding for a tram between BART and the Oakland Airport parking lot, an updated study is showing it requires a $102 taxpayer subsidy for each new rider to go just 3 miles. Bay Area transit advocacy group TransForm says that by comparison a limousine could pick up eight people at their home anywhere in the East Bay and take them straight to the airport terminal for just $99. TransForm references a $500 million cost for the OAC (Oakland Airport Connector) while BART totals it at $484 million.

Released by TransForm, the study presents a lower cost alternative that requires 1/6 the subsidy per rider than the OAC while protecting BART’s core system from financial risk.

“How can any elected official consider forcing taxpayers to pay $408 for a family of 4 to go 3 miles, just to get dropped in the parking lot,” said Stuart Cohen, TransForm’s Executive Director. “On the one hand our regional agency, MTC, just warned that our transit systems are threatened by $17 billion in unfunded needs just to maintain our system, and on the other hand they may recommend the most outrageous waste of taxpayer money since the bridge to nowhere.”

Despite earlier warnings about billions in unfunded needs, MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commission) voted on Sept. 8 to allocate $20 million in state funds, moving the project closer to full funding.

Critics of the OAC say the 3.2-mile elevated train between BART’s Coliseum station and the airport is wasteful because an express bus service could move as many passengers as fast and at a fraction of the cost.

Such a bus service is TransForm’s preferred option. Called RapidBART, it would have its own dedicated transit lane along Hegenberger and fares would remain $3 each way. The cost would be $350 million less than the OAC.

James K. Allison, Deputy Chief Communications Officer for BART says that the Oakland Airport Connector will replace the AirBART busses that are often slowed down by traffic.

Tess Lengyel of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) says the OAC project was part of the original project list approved by 81.5% of Alameda County voters in November 2000.  “Implementation of the project now fulfills our commitment to the voters of Alameda County for a project that received overwhelming voter support.

TransForm says it is sending a letter to BART and MTC inviting them to an open dialogue on the study. “We are providing complete transparency with this report and are asking BART to do the same,” said Cohen. “It is time to shine some light on this issue.”