Public transit has a long and sometimes surprising history. Blaise Pascal, for example,  is known as a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, and theologian. Few know him as the creator of the first public transit line, which was launched in 1662. According to "A Brief History of Buses," by Polina Glavatskikh, "Pascal developed a system of horse-drawn carriages that ran across Paris streets on schedule. However, the initiative hit the wall in what we would now call ‘a failed product-market fit': the carriages were only available to nobility, and their interest in the novelty, unsupported by a real need, faded within a decade."

Note to our Readers: We are pleased to bring you this second installment of our feature on BART's fifty year history. Our feature last month looked into BART's origins. This month, we bring you the story of BART and its value to the Tri-Valley. 

Public Transit Serves Many

In terms of public transportation, Pascal was a visionary ahead of his time. Centuries later, as BART prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the benefits of public transit are well known. "Public transportation is critical to the Americans who use it and even those who do not," according to a report called Economic Impact of Public Transportation Investment, 2020 Update, from the American Public Transit Association. "It is a lifeline for many as it provides mobility options, generates jobs, spurs economic growth, and supports public policies regarding energy use, air quality, and carbon emissions. All of these are important elements when it comes to considering the benefits, costs, and optimal investment levels of public transportation."

The benefits of public transit extend to business owners as well as the public as a whole. "Public transit can expand the pool of available workers and provide a fall-back option for commuters who normally drive when their vehicles are for any reason unavailable," notes the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in a report by Todd Litman that was released April 2022. "This is particularly important for industries that hire numerous lower-wage workers, such as hospitality and retail businesses."

"BART carries 440,000 passengers every weekday, providing access to many of the region's most important destinations for work, school, and recreation and serving the diverse needs of people from different parts of the region. In so doing, BART plays a critical role in supporting the economy and reinforcing the Bay Area's identity as one region," according to a 2016 report produced for the rapid transit agency. "BART doesn't simply benefit riders: It supports the entire Bay Area transportation system and economy. On typical weekdays, hundreds of thousands of people who might otherwise need to drive take BART instead, reducing peak period traffic congestion….By choosing to ride BART instead of driving, commuters avoid driving an estimated 3.3 million miles on the region's roads every weekday. Without BART, the region would have needed far more expensive freeway infrastructure, and the region's major job centers could not have developed as they have."

Regional Benefits

The Tri-Valley gets additional benefits from BART as well. BART operates with hydro- and renewable power and reduces the need to drive. "BART saves 250,000 gallons of gas and reduces CO2 emissions by 4.5 million pounds per weekday," according to BART officials. That lowers pollution and related health problems. Riding BART is also much safer than driving due to vehicle-related injuries and fatalities. Finally, as of 2016, BART contributed "an estimated $80 million per year in added lease revenues for office property owners in the East Bay."

Twenty-five years ago, the grand opening of BART's Dublin/Pleasanton extension was a blur of activity. As one part of the celebration, the Oakland A's sponsored a batting cage. Other entertainment included a bluegrass band, country line dancers, and fun activities for children. "Excitement was in the air when the grand opening was celebrated as the first train departed the Dublin/Pleasanton station at 6:03 a.m. on May 10, 1997," was how one Hacienda article described it five years later. "With the opening, BART added 14 miles to its four-county system, bringing the total length of the system at that time to 96 miles. Today, when you see the station, you can't miss the glittery silver wave-form canopy roof. Its five varying curves reflect the geographical valley's location, with the gentle roll of the surrounding hills. The curved shape itself represents the sound waves generated by BART's electric propulsion."

Those sound waves are not visible, and neither are all of the advantages that BART has brought to the Tri-Valley. Those benefits are notable nonetheless. The completion of the Dublin/Pleasanton station at Hacienda simplified the commutes of thousands of Hacienda employees and made travel easier for visitors and residents. According to analysis, those homes and condominiums close to a BART station in Alameda County gained greater value; so did office buildings. Most importantly, both skilled talent and businesses needing to hire gained access to greater opportunities.

BART is hosting a free 50th Birthday Party and Family Fun Festival at Oakland's Lake Merritt Station on Saturday, September 10, 2022. From 11 am to 4 pm, the public can enjoy food trucks, music, games, prizes, and the opening of a time capsule, according to officials. "BART is also thanking its riders and encouraging more people to return to the system by offering a 50% discount for the entire month of September," notes the agency. "Riders using Clipper will get half off all published BART fares in September. That includes 50% off already discounted fares for youth, senior, Regional Transportation Connection, Clipper Start, and Gator Pass riders."

For more information about BART's 50th anniversary, please visit www.bart.gov/about/history/50years.

For information about Hacienda's commute solutions for employees and residents, please visit www.hacienda.org/amenities/employees-residents/commute-solutions.