>> This is the same outfit that conspired for years to usurp the the Caltrain right of way. . . . .

So - What have you been smokin'? -- Conspiracy? -- Sheeeeesssshhh!

Ever since San Mateo opted out of BART - It was for good reason, and was a done deal - it was final. It still is final!

However, The public's (remember them?) need for BART to the Airport was plain and obvious. But how to get there was not. The airport, though owned by the city of San Francisco, is in San Mateo County. The best option (most direct and lowest cost) was to parallel the SP to 16th street, then northwest to the Mission / Van Ness area to connect with the existing BART, stopping only at Army street and 3rd St (near Bayshore). There was plenty of room on the SP r.o.w. - only two SP tracks with 4 tracks worth of space - even through the tunnels.

But NOoooooooooh! SamTrans insisted that BART extend from Daly City Station and stop several places in San Mateo County on the way to the airport. Even now, SamTrans pays BART for this service. It wasn't BART's idea - and even with the SamTrans subsidy, BART loses money on it - actual ridership sucks from these intermediate stations - especially at Milbrea.

(if you were getting on at Milbrea, would you take the circuitous and dozen stop BART train to the city, or would you take the direct CalTrain - its a no brainer so no one rides BART) it was a dumb idea. But wait - it gets worse!

Now enters "His Nibs", the arrogant Mr "Honorable" Quentin Kopp:
- who's ignorant and blind interference forced the asinine Airport / Milbrea Station configuration upon CalTrain, BART and the airport planners. Those professionals were hired at public cost, but elitist politicians ignored them anyway (politicians always know best - even without looking first!). Between that very expensive nonsense, and the NIMBY pandering subway built under an already existing rail r.o.w.; the cost of the airport extension was run up almost 15 times over normal.

Don't blame BART itself for all this. It was imposed by your own idiot politicians (somebody elected them). BART trains on the CalTrain r.o.w. was purely Mr. Kopp's pipe dream. And when that pipe dream went nowhere, he then introduced a bill in Sacramento to force the merger of CalTrain, BART, and Golden Gate Transit. That merger may or may not have been a good idea, but term limits got 'im before he could push it through. As far as I know, no one has taken the idea seriously since.

-----------

And while I'm at it - another mis-impression should be "Daylighted":

At 68,000 lbs per car (fully loaded), BART cars are in fact lighter than most so-called light rail vehicles. Actually, the term "Light Rail" refers only to the construction standards of the trackage, which is generally much flimsier, and allows many more compromises such as at grade highway crossings. (the downside of lighter construction is higher maintenance costs and higher accident rates)

As Mike Pechner pointed out on an earlier related thread, the bridge structure has already been lightened by 18,000 tons. Therefore, it IS doable. And there surely is of room enough for one track (BART would need only 12ft) between the bracing on the lower deck; and it would not add back anywhere near the 18,000 tons already removed. Same with any light rail or even the much maligned DMU's.

Car commuting is dying - whether they know it or not - or even whether they like it or not.
So let's quit bickering and get on with it! The future of Marin depends on it. -- The future of anywhere depends on it

Nothing great is ever accomplished by listening to naysayers!

OPB