BART Board Member Backs November Vote on Location of New Livermore Station

The BART board member who represents the Tri-Valley says he supports a asking residents what option they prefer for a Livermore BART station.

"Let's settle this," said John McPartland, who oversees the transit agency's District 5. "I'm not trying to start a fight with anyone, but for us to go forward we need to speak with a single political voice. Right now, we are not."

McPartland's comments were sparked by a petition drive begun last week by a citizens group, Keep BART on 580.

The organization opposes a new BART station in Livermore's downtown area. They prefer the station be built along the Interstate 580 corridor or in the Isabel Avenue region.

Last year, the City Council voted to move forward with the downtown station proposal.

The citizens group is collecting signatures to put an advisory measure on the November ballot.

McPartland said he most likely would abide by such a vote, but is in favor of the downtown station.

The board member said a station near downtown would serve the most people as well as reduce the number of cars on the freeway and Livermore's major roads.

He said such a station also could serve San Joaquin County commuters and bring business to downtown merchants.

"It would provide services to the public as well as help the environment," he said.

McPartland added that he feels the downtown station is the only option that would receive federal funding. Federal guidelines favor transportation projects that are built around a transit village concept.

"There would be no federal funding for a BART station in the middle of a freeway," he said.

McPartland, who lives in Castro Valley, said he is impressed with how Livermore's downtown area has changed over the past decade. He said he is confident city planners can design a development that will keep the downtown's small-town flavor.

"I am cognizant of that downtown and what it does for the city," he said.

McPartland also said he has asked for an update from engineers on how many homes would be affected by the construction of a downtown station. Opponents of the project have said at least 80 houses would need to be demolished.

Whatever station option is approved, McPartland said he will work closely with project engineers and city planners to make sure the negative impacts are mitigated.

He noted that if the downtown option is eliminated, the environmental review process will have to start again, delaying the BART extension for another few years.