BART Berkeley El Cerrito

This open house is focused on strategies related to access to BART stations along this corridor.

BART

BERKELEY - EL CERRITO
CORRIDOR ACCESS PLAN

icons of a bike, bus, car, rideshre vehicle, tree and person walking, and cars parked
  • Welcome
  • Timelines
  • Community Input
  • Draft Plan
  • Survey
  • Stay Connected

Welcome

Welcome to the third online and final open house for the Berkeley – El Cerrito Corridor Access Plan (Corridor Access Plan). This open house is focused on the draft plan, which contains strategies related to access to BART stations along this corridor. Your input for the draft Corridor Access Plan will be collected in the survey, which is open through January 8, 2023. This is an important follow up to online open house #1 and online open house #2.


If you need language assistance services, please call (510) 464-6752.
Si necesita servicios de asistencia de idiomas, llame al (510) 464-6752.
如需語言協助服務,請致電 (510) 464-6752.
통역이 필요하신 분은, 510-464-6752 로 문의하십시오.
Kung kailangan mo ang tulong ng mga serbisyo ng wika, paki tawagan ang (510) 464-6752.
Nếu quý vị cần dịch vụ trợ giúp về ngôn ngữ, xin vui lòng gọi số (510) 464-6752.

Future access to the Berkeley and El Cerrito stations

BART and the cities are working with developers to build more than 2,000 affordable and market rate homes on the El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, and Ashby BART stations parking lots. Developing housing on BART property helps address the region’s housing crisis. It also supports BART’s ability to provide high-quality service through increased ridership from the future residents.

BART has been leading the Corridor Access Plan, in collaboration with Berkeley and El Cerrito, to identify options for riders to get to and from BART once homes are built on the station parking lots. The Corridor Access Plan balances the need for BART rider parking, which is expensive to build and uses a lot of space, with sustainable transportation options that enhance community vibrancy and safety.

Coordination with cities and other entities has been key throughout this process as many of the access strategies are outside of BART’s control. For example, constructing pedestrian and bicycle improvements that are on city streets near BART stations. Another example is planning and funding bus transit improvements on San Pablo Avenue, a road that goes through multiple jurisdictions. The draft plan identifies who would implement the recommended strategies and who would support. More detail can be found under the section, “Who will implement access strategies?”

The Corridor Access Plan is funded by Caltrans and the Federal Transit Administration.

This is a map of the plan area. The locations of El Cerrito del Norte, El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley and Ashby BART stations are shown. There are circles around El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley, and Ashby BART stations that indicate half-mile and one-mile radii around the stations. The map also shows that El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, and Ashby BART stations will include transit-oriented development.
How this open house works

This is the final online open house for the Corridor Access Plan. Click through the sections using the navigation bar at the top of the page, or scroll down the page to:

  • Learn about the plan. Review the draft Corridor Access Plan and other sections as needed of this open house. Determine which strategies help you get to and from BART once the station parking lots are developed and if next steps for implementing those strategies are clear.
  • Share your feedback. Take the survey in the “survey” section to help us understand if the draft plan identifies strategies that will help you get to and from BART.
  • Spread the word. Share this site with your neighbors, community members, family, and friends who live in the corridor plan area or use the El Cerrito and Berkeley BART stations.

You can still view the first two online open houses if you need more background information:

  • Online open house #1: BART explained the Corridor Access Plan and requested feedback from you about your needs for getting to and from BART in the survey that was open July 2 to August 20, 2021
  • Online open house #2: BART shared information with you about a wide range of potential strategies for how riders can get to and from the stations when the station parking lots are developed. We heard how these strategies may work for you in the survey that was open April 20 to May 18, 2022.
Who would implement access strategies?

The following agencies and entities would play important roles in implementing strategies recommended in the Corridor Access Plan. Specific implementation roles for individual strategies will be included in the final Corridor Access Plan.

AC Transit would lead bus strategies, such as the addition of new lines or improvement of existing lines. AC Transit would also implement any changes to Transbay bus service.

Cities of Berkeley and El Cerrito would lead implementation of infrastructure strategies around the stations, such as bicycle and pedestrian improvements, street lighting, and parking management plans

Caltrans would coordinate with cities and approve any changes on state-designated routes, such as Ashby Avenue (State Route 13) and San Pablo Avenue (State Route 123).

BART would lead implementation of strategies on BART property such as on-site parking and coordinating timed transfers between AC Transit buses and BART trains. BART would also work with the cities and partner agencies on securing funding for access improvements off its property.

Regional and county agencies, like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Alameda County Transportation Commission, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, would lead strategies across multiple jurisdictions, such as improvements along San Pablo Avenue, and play a key role in distributing funding for high priority strategies.

Private companies, local organizations, and non-profit organizations may play a role in implementing strategies, such as creating an electric-bike lending library. Technology companies that create apps for ride sharing and car parking would play a role in providing access to the stations.

Developers would work with BART and cities to implement access improvements on and near BART property.

Español

Este es un evento de puertas abiertas en línea para el Plan de Acceso al Corredor Berkeley-El Cerrito de BART. Para
traducir todo el sitio web al español, haga clic en la barra “Seleccionar idioma” ubicada en el margen superior
izquierdo del sitio web.

正體字/繁體字

這是為舊金山灣區捷運局 (BART) Berkeley-El Cerrito 走廊通行計劃舉辦的線上資訊公開活動。若要將整個網站內容翻譯成中文,請在網站右上方邊緣按一下 “Select language” (「選擇語言」)。

Join us at our Zoom office hours:

  • Wed, Apr 27 | 5-6PM:
    Parking management around El Cerrito Plaza station. Join the Zoom meeting to participate.
  • Wed, May 4 | 5-6PM:
    General access strategies for all stations. Join the Zoom meeting to participate.
  • Thu, May 5 | 5-6PM:
    General access strategies for all stations. Join the Zoom meeting to participate.

Joining by phone? Visit www.bart.gov/beccap for instructions.

You can drop in to meet the project team, ask questions, and share input.

Related projects

Many related plans and projects which BART and the cities are currently collaborating include:

  • El Cerrito Plaza Station Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
  • Ashby Station TOD
  • North Berkeley Station TOD
  • Adeline Corridor Roadway Reconfiguration Feasibility study
  • North Berkeley Active Access Project

Timelines

The Corridor Access Plan builds upon years of public input into locally adopted plans and policies, which articulate each community’s vision for future development and public investments. It is the next step of a multi-year collaborative effort between BART, Berkeley, and El Cerrito to develop the Ashby, North Berkeley, and El Cerrito Plaza BART stations for much-needed housing. Here has been our process and timeline for developing the Corridor Access Plan:

2021

Spring

  • Introduce plan
  • Develop vision and review goals
  • Collect data

Summer

  • Define needs
  • Phase 1 community outreach and input
  • Understand access opportunities

Fall

  • Identify menu of access strategies
  • Set BART parking maximum for El Cerrito Plaza station

2022

Winter

  • Set BART parking maximums for Ashby and North Berkeley stations
  • Continue reviewing access strategies

Spring/summer

  • Phase 2 community outreach and input
  • Confirm access options
  • Determine funding and financing options

Fall/winter

  • Evaluate access strategies
  • Develop Draft Corridor Access Plan
  • Phase 3 community outreach
  • Finalize Corridor Access Plan

As shown in the timeline above, there have been three phases of community engagement and feedback for the Corridor Access Plan:

  • Phase 1 (spring 2021 through summer 2021) – Your Needs: BART collected data and input to understand access needs across the corridor.
  • Phase 2 (fall 2021 through summer 2022) – Initial Access Strategies: BART presented initial access options and the maximum number of on-site BART rider parking stalls. We received community feedback on an initial set of strategies for area-wide station access.
  • Phase 3 (summer 2022 through winter 2022/2023) – Corridor Access Plan: We are asking you to review the draft plan, which summarizes your needs; confirms and prioritizes the set of strategies for station access and parking; and identifies funding opportunities to implement these strategies. We will finalize the plan after receiving input.

What are the timelines for the Ashby, North Berkeley, and El Cerrito Plaza TODs?

The developments at El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, and Ashby BART stations are on different timelines, as shown below.

Ashby and North Berkeley stations

BART has been working with the community and the City of Berkeley for years to plan TOD at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations. With extensive input from a Community Advisory Group, the Transportation Commission Corridor Access Plan Subcommittee and other members of the public, the City, and BART approved their Joint Vision & Priorities for Transit-Oriented Development for Ashby and North Berkeley BART Stations in June 2022. BART released the North Berkeley BART TOD requests for qualifications (RFQ) in Summer 2022 and the BART Board selected the developer December 2022. The Ashby BART TOD RFQ and developer selection are anticipated in 2023.

El Cerrito Plaza station

Work to plan the El Cerrito Plaza BART TOD project has been underway since 2019, when BART, the community, and city of El Cerrito began developing Goals and Objectives. These were approved by the El Cerrito City Council and BART Board. BART selected the development team of Holliday Development and Related California in November 2020. BART, the city of El Cerrito, and the development team have been working with the community to advance the design.

In July 2022, the developer hosted an in-person pop-up event at El Cerrito Plaza to receive feedback from the community on the project and updated design. In September 2022, the developer presented the design and community feedback to the El Cerrito Design Review Board and Planning Commission in a Joint Study Session. Construction will be phased and is anticipated to begin in 2024.

More information about the development project and future meetings hosted by the development team can be found here.

Community Input

Since early 2021 when BART began the Corridor Access Plan, we’ve heard a lot of great ideas and input – thank you for your contributions so far!

How has BART engaged with communities?

We’ve engaged with community members in a variety of ways to understand people’s experience and challenges in getting to and from BART:

  • Our first online open house, which included a public idea map, and survey
  • Our second online open house, which included 51 initial access strategies and a survey
  • Tabling at community gatherings, like farmers and flea markets
  • Virtual events, such as office hours and community meetings
  • Free-form website comments

Outreach Milestone Reports and Online Open House Survey summaries can be found on the Outreach & Materials page of the Corridor Access Plan website.

Two previous online open houses

network of people icon

4,694 people visited the sites

clipboard and pen icon

2,720 surveys completed

map placemarker icon

1,398 comments and likes received from the interactive map

social media thumbs up 'like' icon

20 social media posts with 262 likes and tweets

Other outreach (through Aug. 2021)

virtual meeting icon

18 virtual public meetings, including community, City Council, and BART Board meetings

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190+ interactions at four in-person events and 16 virtual office hours

email icon

1,252 people received email notifications about the outreach from BART

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179 comments were provided through the BART website

How community input has informed the Corridor Access Plan?

(1) Defining access needs

  • How do BART riders get to and from the Ashby, Downtown Berkeley, North Berkeley, and El Cerrito Plaza stations?
  • What are the barriers to getting to and from these stations without driving?
  • What options do BART riders feel they have for getting to and from the stations?
  • How does this community input help?

  • This helped the project team identify an early set of strategies to address identified barriers.
  • Status: Complete

(2) Developing access strategies

  • Which proposed access and parking management strategies best fit BART riders’ needs?
  • What support, programs, or incentives would motivate BART riders to choose certain strategies?
  • What infrastructure improvements would be needed to successfully implement the proposed strategies?
  • How does this community input help?

  • This helped the project team focus on a variety of strategies for getting to and from the stations that will work for people and can be implemented.
  • Status: Complete

(3) Confirming and prioritizing access strategies

  • Does the final set of strategies support the variety of needs and suggestions voiced through this process?
  • Do community members support the package of strategies?
  • How does this community input help?

  • This helps the project team select strategies that meet project goals and objectives while having public support.
  • Status: In progress as part of the draft Corridor Access Plan
This is a photo showing people standing at a table at the El Cerrito Plaza farmers market talking to BART and City staff about the transit-oriented development project and Corridor Access Plan.
Tabling at the farmer’s market is one of the ways BART has engaged with community members regarding the Corridor Access Plan.

Open House Map Comments

BART received 1,398 comments and likes through the interactive map from the first online open house. View the map to understand individual map comments.

biking icon

Bike

578

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Car / Dropoff

40

cars parked icon

Parking

66

bus transit icon

Transit

230

walking icon

Walking

357

 

Other

127

Draft Plan

Since early 2021, BART engaged residents, riders, and stakeholders to discuss building mixed-income homes on BART’s parking lots in the study area. We worked with community members on developing strategies for getting to and from BART that minimize the need for BART rider parking on-site, culminating in this draft Corridor Access Plan.

After reviewing, please let us know your thoughts about the draft Corridor Access Plan in the survey below.

Survey

The purpose of this online open house is to understand from you how helpful you think the recommended strategies identified in the draft plan will be in getting you to and from BART. The recommended strategies were analyzed based on public support, effectiveness, cost, and feasibility. Your input will help guide BART and other entities, such as the City of Berkeley, the City of El Cerrito, and AC Transit prioritize strategy implementation.

This survey will be available 12/16/2022 TO 01/08/2023


This survey is not accepting additional responses at this time. Thank You!

Stay Connected

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Berkeley-El Cerrito Corridor Access Plan and share your input. You can stay connected by:

   Checking our project website

   Sending comments

   Joining our email list

Primary Sidebar

Project website

www.bart.gov/beccap

Follow BART on social media

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If you need language assistance services, please call (510) 464-6752.

Si necesita servicios de asistencia de idiomas, llame al (510) 464-6752.

如需語言協助服務,請致電 (510) 464-6752。

통역이 필요하신 분은, 510-464-6752 로 문의하십시오.

Kung kailangan mo ang tulong ng mga serbisyo ng wika, paki tawagan ang (510) 464-6752.

Nếu quý vị cần dịch vụ trợ giúp về ngôn ngữ, xin vui lòng gọi số (510) 464-6752.

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