After more than 20 years in the ideation stage, a project that would expand access to BART in Union City is finally on the horizon. City officials are confident this decision will be beneficial. Residents, however, are less than impressed.
The city invited the community for an informational meeting on Saturday, September 14, where they revealed the plan to construct an at-grade pedestrian rail crossing over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks on the east side of the Union City BART station, effectively creating access to the station from both sides. Their hope, they say, is that the new implementation would improve access for residents in the Station District neighborhood to BART and nearby transportation and retail centers.
“This has been a very public ongoing dialogue,” said city manager Joan Malloy about the project when residents questioned the city’s diligence in informing them.
As part of the project, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are requiring the closure of an existing at-grade crossing along the Oakland Subdivision rail line to allow the new pedestrian crossing at the BART east entrance. To the dismay of many, the City determined that closing the I Street crossing would cause the least disruption to pedestrian and vehicle traffic compared to other crossings evaluated.
“I live right by there, I need it to be open,” one resident said.
Shops on I Street that could be affected by the decision include Dorado Foods and La Tiendita Market, which draw in a large Latino customer base.
City council candidate Lance Nishihira expressed concern over the city’s announcement of the plan. Despite the city hosting previous meetings on the closure, many residents are either unaware or for various reasons do not or cannot attend. Nihishira pressed city representatives to commit to providing
regular updates.
“Agencies like ours tend to do a lot of outreach, but sometimes people don’t show up,” he said.
City officials said they aim to keep the public informed about the next stages of the development.
The opening of the east entrance is expected to drive both housing and commercial development in the Station District, enhancing economic opportunities for all residents. Increased access to transit options like BART is expected to boost ridership on both trains and buses, create potential for new transit routes, and provide easier access to a future intercity passenger rail station near the new crossing. This station will serve Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) trains, connecting Sacramento, the Bay Area and the Central Valley, with future connections to California’s High-Speed Rail.
To facilitate the new pedestrian crossing, the City has also committed to making several key improvements to other pedestrian rail crossings in various locations. For example, important upgrades will be made at the Decoto Road and Oakland Subdivision tracks, just east of the current BART overhead tracks. Additional improvements are planned for the Smith Street and Whipple Road crossings as part of future project phases.
A public hearing to officially authorize the closure of I Street is scheduled for October 8, 2024.
