Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) - Oakland Airport Connector

Lea+Elliott is the General Engineering Consultant to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District for a 3.2-mile long urban AGT system that will link BART’s Coliseum Station with the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport. Lea+Elliott’s multi-disciplinary GEC team includes 12 subconsultants that provide a broad range of transportation planning, engineering, architecture, and implementation management expertise.

Lea+Elliott’s scope for Phase I included supporting the EIS/EIR and MIS processes and performing preliminary engineering. Phase II work includes preparing DBOM procurement documents; assisting in the selection of a contractor; providing a full range of design review and contract compliance services; and coordinating interfaces between the Connector, BART’s rail transit system, and the Airport.

The EIS/EIR and MIS evaluated a no-build project alternative (continuation of AirBART shuttle bus service), an improved "quality bus" alternative, and various AGT technologies and alignments. The BART Board of Directors chose an AGT system as being the most appropriate for this corridor. The AGT system would operate as an extension of the BART line, eliminating the need to buy a separate ticket for AirBART and providing a seamless transfer between the two modes at the Oakland Coliseum Station.

Lea+Elliott led the DBOM procurement by developing an RFQ to pre-qualify separate contracting teams that demonstrated the ability to successfully integrate all the aspects of the project facilities and systems design and construction. Six DBOM teams responded and were qualified. Subsequently, Lea+Elliott developed a complete RFP for the full range of DBOM services for industry review by the six pre-qualified contracting teams and a Peer Review team selected by BART. Lea+Elliott supported analysis of the comments and redrafted the RFP to meet the unique BART contracting requirements and the needs posed within an urban alignment that crosses multiple public agency jurisdictions. Lea+Elliott is also providing design support and value engineering to BART for the revision of design concepts to meet Oakland International Airport expansion plans and to cut costs.

Due to the economic climate, a significant amount of anticipated State funding is unlikely to become available in the next several years and the available public funds are not sufficient to cover the capital construction cost. The District has cancelled the procurement process under the design-build legislation and is issuing a new procurement under the Infrastructure Financing Act (IFA) that will allow the Project to move forward without further delay. In applying, the IFA, the District will enter into an agreement with a lead business private entity for the design, build, financing, and operation (DBFO) of the Project.

BART prequalified three Design-Build-Finance and Operate (DBFO) teams in May 2006 and released the Request for Proposals to the prequalified teams in May 2007. Proposals are due in September 2007 and BART intends to award the Concession Agreement in early 2009 for a targeted start of passenger service in 2011.

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