BART Geary Line, 2nd Transbay Tube (San Francisco, Oakland: 2014, low crime, neighborhood)

[GalacticDragonfly]

So, it's still a pipedream but it's one step closer. BART is analyzing the idea of a Geary line, officially this time, no fantasy map or anything.
As someone with experience on the 38 Geary, it almost makes me want to cry. But knowing the SFMTA, they'll probably shoot this down since they get priority. Then proceed with BRT. Not getting hopes up, but at least its official this time. Geary BART is great, Muni metro is also nice. Is this feasible? Probably see this happening in a few decades after BART greenlights the idea, then greenlights the actual proposal.

Justified ridership too. I just wonder what the end terminus would look like? Completely underground?
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/articl...me-5931039.php
http://sf.streetsblog.org/2014/12/01...ide-extension/

[Ruth4Truth]

What? Really?? A 2nd transbay tube? From where, across the Bay? Where would the money for all that come from?

Honestly, I wonder if San Francisco is prepared for the effects of Global Warming, which should be catching up with us in about 20 years. Higher sea levels. Could put a damper on BART to the beach.

Still, something is definitely needed on Geary. But I don't think it should be postponed until a whole new transbay BART line could be funded.

[bmw335xi]

I think it would be a great idea, but I imagine with all the red tape in SF, it's still a long shot and likely to be decades from now.

[pch1013]

Not to mention the fact that it'll be several billion years before Alameda allows a BART line to be built through it.

[GalacticDragonfly]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What? Really?? A 2nd transbay tube? From where, across the Bay? Where would the money for all that come from?

Honestly, I wonder if San Francisco is prepared for the effects of Global Warming, which should be catching up with us in about 20 years. Higher sea levels. Could put a damper on BART to the beach.

Still, something is definitely needed on Geary. But I don't think it should be postponed until a whole new transbay BART line could be funded.

It's a study primarily about a tube from Alameda to SOMA. It would certainly spare us congestion since nearly all routes travel through the tube. Geary is more of an afterthought, butBart is considering it because if they're going to build in San Francisco, why not get the whole job down and continue another line through the City, to the only super-dense neighborhood without BART or Muni Metro.

It's like the exact opposite attitude SFMTA has.

It's part of that BART metro vision. I'm 50/50 about it. I like the idea of Muni Metro Expanding first. Simply to fill the gap and have more stops. But Muni slow. And maybe a tunnel underneath Geary is what's needed. If so, then I'd prefer BART. But I wish they would consider having more lines through Oakland and one up Pacifica, from the Geary line.

[GalacticDragonfly]

Originally Posted by pch1013

Not to mention the fact that it'll be several billion years before Alameda allows a BART line to be built through it.

I don't think the resistance is that strong, too many Alameda commuters already travel to the rather unsettling Fruitvale station. If Marin was willing to get BART done in the 90's and simply couldn't for financial reasons, and cities like Lafayette and Orinda have BART, I don't Alameda is much of a stretch.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by GalacticDragonfly

I don't think the resistance is that strong, too many Alameda commuters already travel to the rather unsettling Fruitvale station. If Marin was willing to get BART done in the 90's and simply couldn't for financial reasons, and cities like Lafayette and Orinda have BART, I don't Alameda is much of a stretch.

The issue with Alamed(ans) approving BART has more to do with the potential riff raff it may bring. Alameda is a low crime, quiet community, bringing BART may bring less desirable people.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by GalacticDragonfly

It's a study primarily about a tube from Alameda to SOMA. It would certainly spare us congestion since nearly all routes travel through the tube. Geary is more of an afterthought, butBart is considering it because if they're going to build in San Francisco, why not get the whole job down and continue another line through the City, to the only super-dense neighborhood without BART or Muni Metro.

It's like the exact opposite attitude SFMTA has.

It's part of that BART metro vision. I'm 50/50 about it. I like the idea of Muni Metro Expanding first. Simply to fill the gap and have more stops. But Muni slow. And maybe a tunnel underneath Geary is what's needed. If so, then I'd prefer BART. But I wish they would consider having more lines through Oakland and one up Pacifica, from the Geary line.

Yeah, I was thinking maybe the cheaper/easier/quicker way to go would be to build a tunnel under Geary, but for a limited-stop MUNI line, one that would only make about 4 stops, like a BART line would.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by GalacticDragonfly

If Marin was willing to get BART done in the 90's and simply couldn't for financial reasons

Marin was never willing to "get BART done." And it's the last place where lack of money would be an issue.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Yeah, I was thinking maybe the cheaper/easier/quicker way to go would be to build a tunnel under Geary, but for a limited-stop MUNI line, one that would only make about 4 stops, like a BART line would.

Oh, but then you'd have Rose Pak shrieking about discrimination against the pink plastic bag brigade, and demanding a stop every 50 feet.