STV supports BART expansion plans

Oakland, Calif. — As part of a larger effort to meet surging ridership demands, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District enlisted transportation engineering firm STV to develop plans that will reconfigure and expand the Hayward Yard Maintenance Complex, its largest maintenance and storage facility.

Following years of planning and review detailing the need for a larger facility at BART’s 88-acre Hayward Yard Maintenance Complex, STV has begun the process of developing conceptual designs and advancing them to design completion for construction of the new Vehicle Overhaul & Heavy Repair Shop. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2017.

Once completed, the Vehicle Overhaul & Heavy Repair Shop will be capable of servicing the needs of BART’s vehicle fleet, which is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent over the next five years to more than 1,000 railcars.

To date, STV has already completed specialized equipment design and is providing design support for the Hayward Component Repair Shop at the complex, which is now under construction.

The expansion of the Hayward Yard Maintenance Complex is one component of BART’s “Big 3” initiative, which also includes growing the vehicle fleet and improving the train control system. This initiative will improve safety and efficiency while meeting the needs of passengers in the Bay Area for years to come.

Weekday ridership on BART is averaging nearly 450,000 passengers and is expected to climb further over the next 30 years with regional population growth and system expansions. Following the success of the recently inaugurated service to Oakland International Airport, BART will soon extend to Warm Springs and eventually beyond to Silicon Valley/San Jose. Plans are also proceeding for the eBART East Contra Costa extension as well as adding 4.5 miles along the Dublin/Pleasanton line to Livermore.