FTA sends FFGA notice for BART’s Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Program to Congress for review
Funding for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Project took a significant step forward with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) sending a mandated 30-day review notice to Congress stating its intent to award a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) to the transit agency.
The news of BART’s potential grant follows the FTA giving Congress notice of its intent to award an FFGA through the Capital Investment Grants Program to the Metropolitan Council in Minnesota for the Southwest Light Rail Project earlier this week.
Based on the project’s FTA profile, BART requested approximately $1.17 billion through the CIG Program, which represents 43.2 percent of the Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Project’s $2.7 billion cost.
The project will increase capacity in the Transbay Corridor between the city of Oakland and downtown San Francisco and consists of four main elements:
- 306 additional railcars to provide the trains needed to increase capacity.
- A new Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system that will allow more trains per hour through the Transbay Tube.
- The construction of a new storage yard on BART-owned property at the Hayward Maintenance Complex to accommodate the additional rail cars.
- The construction of five new substations in San Francisco and the East Bay to enhance the electrical system that will power the corridor’s trains.
“Though the 30-day congressional review is still needed for us to realize the funding we’re seeking, this is a huge step forward in BART’s long-term efforts to expand Transbay capacity to meet the future needs of the Bay Area,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “I want to personally thank Secretary Elaine Chao and FTA Acting Administrator Jane Williams and numerous FTA staff.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
