Campaign for Measure BB on Track; Voters of Alameda, Contra Costa and SF Counties Asked To Vote to 'Make BART Better'.

News Editors and Transportation Writers

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2002

The "Committee for BART Seismic Safety" formally kicked off its campaign to make BART better, asking voters to approve Measure BB.

The three-county campaign, in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco, is asking voters to approve $1.05 billion in general obligation bonds -- BART's first bond request since the original bonds issued in 1962, retired in 1998, for the acquisition, design and construction of the core system. The $1.05 billion bond will fund important seismic retrofit programs of the transbay tube, elevated stations, and rail lines.

Measure BB requires a two-thirds aggregate majority vote in the three counties. The bonds will be repaid by a property tax assessment over approximately 40-years. The average property tax assessment would be $7.80 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

BART is the backbone of the Bay Area transportation network. During its 30 year history, the system has been responsible for the safe transportation of almost two billion passengers more than 22 billion miles and is responsible each day for carrying 45% of all transbay traffic during peak commute times. Measure BB seeks to make BART safer, stronger and more reliable and ensure the system can continue to serve as the Bay Area's transportation backbone.

The planned improvements are part of an aggressive systemwide retrofit program recommended by a two-year study of BART's ability to withstand a major earthquake. The study, conducted by expert engineers and certified by Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Institute--including world renowned engineers and seismologists and participation by the California Seismic Safety Commission--has identified necessary improvements and retrofit along more than 71 miles of original rail, elevated structures and the transbay tube.

These improvements will improve the safety and reliability of the system in the event of a major earthquake equal to or greater than the 1989 Loma Prieta quake -- where BART was the only working link between the East Bay and San Francisco.

Experienced scientists and engineers agree that improvements financed by Measure BB will reduce the threats posed by earthquakes to the BART system. Measure BB would make improvements and upgrades so BART will be up and running within days--not years--of a major seismic event and reinforce the backbone of the system.

BART began service to the Bay Area in September 1972 with 71.5 miles of rail and 34 stations. It has expanded its service and today offers Bay Area commuters 103 miles of rail, 43 stations and 43,000 parking spots for BART riders in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo counties.