Last week the Federal Transportation Authority (FTA) rescinded their pledge of $70 million (US) for the construction of the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC). This action throws the future of that system into limbo. For anyone who has been following along, you’ll remember that the OAC was to be built using cable technology.
The problem stems from the Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority (BART) failing to comply with a requirement to conduct an Equity Evaluation under a Title VI Civil Rights law, which is compulsory to access federal stimulus funds. Given the $6 price tag to ride the OAC, the FTA feels that the OAC will not benefit disadvantaged communities in a suitable proportion. BART submitted an action plan to remedy the problem, but the FTA has rejected the plan. In their opinion, BART does not have time to make the necessary corrections by a March 6th deadline.
Grassroots organizations have hailed the FTA’s actions as a victory for transit while BART and and others are wondering how this could’ve happened, given that this is exactly the kind of legacy-leaving, stimulus-providing project the Obama administration was looking for. BART has indicated they will proceed with the project without federal funds, but how BART will make up the shortfall is unknown.
In other words, the future of the OAC is anyone’s guess.
Was it a good decision? I honestly don’t know. I’m not from Oakland and can only witness from afar. A transit line is as much political as technological, so what I’ll say is this: The FTA’s decision was not a pronouncement on the choice of technology, it was a pronouncement on the line itself. Those are two very different – but easily confused – things. The OAC would’ve met the same fate had BART chosen to build it with self-propelled rather than cable-propelled vehicles.
Cable got caught in the crossfire, yes, but it was never the intended target.
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