The following items are excerpted or summarized from news releases issued by the California Transit Association members. If you are a member of the Association and would like to submit an item to be considered for inclusion in the Member News Library, please email your press releases to Managing Editor Jacob Herson (jake@caltransit.org). Photos and cutline information with your news release submissions, when possible, are encouraged.
April Chan Appointed New SamTrans GM/CEO
April Chan was unanimously appointed by the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Board of Directors to be the agency’s next General Manager/CEO, effective November 1, 2022. Chan is a 20-plus-year veteran of the agency, currently serving as Acting Deputy General Manager/CEO. She will succeed Acting General Manager/CEO Carter Mau, who previously informed the Board of his intent to retire in the coming months.
Board Chair Peter Ratto stated, "The Board was gratified to see the broad and diverse group of candidates from across the country who wanted to serve in this role. However, I am even more thrilled to appoint a General Manager/CEO who we know first-hand is ready to drive SamTrans into an ever-brighter future. Ms. Chan is an intelligent, thoughtful, savvy and creative leader.”
Over her 20-plus years at the District, Ms. Chan's professional successes have included:
- Providing executive leadership and oversight for the Reimagine SamTrans comprehensive operational analysis, which overhauled the overall network of bus routes.
- Collaborating with state, federal, and regional partner agencies, as well as private employers, to secure full funding ($550 million) for the San Mateo County U.S 101 Express Lanes project.
- Serving on the executive team that provided direction for the completion of the first-ever equity study in the SF Bay Area region for express lanes, resulting in a San Mateo County Express Lanes Equity Program that provides community benefits to eligible disadvantaged county residents with either fare or express lane subsidies.
- Leading the application process for a $647 million federal Core Capacity grant for the Caltrain Electrification Program, and working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrain's partners agencies to secure over $2 billion in funding for the project.
- Initiating a study of the Dumbarton Bridge corridor area to assess potential trans-bay transportation solutions to help alleviate extensive traffic congestion in an area of expanding growth.
Chan reflected on her experience with the District, stating, “I have been responsible for planning, program management, budgeting, real estate, policy development, government affairs, and more for SamTrans, Caltrain, and the Transportation Authority over the years. With my varied experience, coupled with decades-long relationships in the industry and the region, I am ready to help these agencies reach their maximum potential and serve the county's residents, businesses and commuters.”
Looking forward, Chan said, "I recognize the General Manager/CEO position will come with many challenges. As a next step after the recently completed Caltrain governance negotiations, I will be working with that agency's various leaders to negotiate a first-ever shared services agreement. In addition, I will be responsible for the rollout and funding plan for the full electrification of the SamTrans fleet, to both fulfill the State mandate, and lead the District in meeting its sustainability and climate goals. I am looking forward to taking on these challenges.”
Warm Springs BART West Access Bridge and Plaza Project Receives ASCE Award
The Warm Springs Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) BART West Access Bridge and Plaza Project has been selected to receive the 2022 Outstanding Transportation Project award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – San Francisco Section. The award recognizes innovative projects with a principal focus on transportation design and construction. The project was recognized at the annual ASCE San Francisco Section Meeting on September 28 in the Historic Green Room at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.
The West Access Bridge crosses over five sets of Union Pacific railroad tracks to connect the Warm Springs/South Fremont BART Station to the growing Fremont Innovation District. It is composed of a truss span and a cable stay span for a total length of 150 feet. Truss components were fabricated off site and delivered to the project site, where they were welded together and ultimately hoisted into place and connected to the BART station. The cable stay bridge includes a 120-foot-tall pylon that is the signature architectural element of the bridge. From there, the bridge ties into the Warm Springs Plaza via a staircase, escalators, and an elevator tower. These elements are integral to the signature architecture.
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei said, “What an accomplishment! The 2022 Outstanding Transportation Project Award is a wonderful recognition of how the West Access Bridge connects people to transit in both a smart and beautiful way. This showcases how the City of Fremont and BART continue to build better communities.”
The City’s design team included Biggs Cardosa & Associates, HNTB, and Gates & Associates, with Shimmick Construction Co. as the contractor. The total project cost was $41 million. Preconstruction, planning, design, and utility relocation work was funded by the City of Fremont ($11 million). The construction cost of $30 million was funded by the Alameda County Transportation Commission. By agreement, BART funded its own project support and oversight costs of $1.5 million from Measure RR separately.
The Warm Springs/South Fremont Station opened for service in 2017 and boasts eye-catching art installations, solar panels, and EV charging stations as well as other environmentally sustainable features.
AC Transit to Participate in Innovative V2B Pilot Project
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) will participate in a pilot project to assess the value of bidirectional electric vehicle charging, in this case vehicle-to-building (V2B). The project will leverage stored energy from zero-emission electric buses to provide filtered air conditioning at the West Oakland Branch of the Oakland Public Library for local residents in the event of unhealthy heat or smoke conditions.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded the project $3.2 million in funding, with a combined $400,000 in matching funds contributed by West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP) and AC Transit. This pilot study will be executed by a project team consisting of the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), The Mobility House, AC Transit, New Flyer, Schneider Electric, the City of Oakland, and WOEIP.
“Unquestionably, delivering reliable public transit service to nearly 22 million annual riders is our highest priority, but we also pursue partnerships and initiatives that advance zero-emission technology,” said AC Transit General Manager Michael Hursh. “V2B is one example of a zero-emission program that permits us to leverage our resources to enhance the resiliency and emergency preparedness of the diverse communities we've served for the past 60 years.”
The project will mark the first instance of a U.S. transit agency using a hydrogen-powered bus, in this case made by New Flyer, for V2B backup power. Each hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus will provide up to 11 continuous hours of backup power, displacing nearly 100 pounds of carbon emissions per hour compared to traditional diesel backup generators. Each battery-electric bus will contribute six hours of backup power. Electric buses are uniquely suited to provide backup power because of their energy storage capacity, electrical architecture, and mobility. Compared with diesel generators, they are cleaner, quicker to deploy, and can be more cost-effective. This usage also increases the value of procuring zero-emission vehicles.
The resilient backup power system, which combines Bus Exportable Power Supply capability with bidirectional chargers and smart software, will be integrated and tested at New Flyer parent company NFI’s Hayward facility, then deployed at an AC Transit bus division and the Oakland Library. The system is designed to power the library’s upgraded HVAC and air filtration system, providing clean air and electricity inside the building to create a public shelter during emergencies and outages. Infrastructure is expected to be installed by mid-2023, and demonstration, analysis, evaluation, and knowledge transfer for the pilot program will continue until July 2025.
"Many low-income communities of color share streets and fence lines with the freight industry and suffer deadly pollution from petroleum combustion,” said Brian Beveridge, co-executive director of WOIEP. “With our electrical grids straining under the demands of global warming, and solar and wind not keeping pace with the urgent need, hydrogen may offer another tool in the toolbox of zero-emission freight transportation opportunities. Communities like West Oakland will benefit from an expanded set of transportation energy options by getting cleaner, safer streets and air quality.”
SacRT Offers Free Rides to Active and Retired Military on Veterans Day
In honor of those who serve our country, Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is inviting military service men and women to ride SacRT light rail trains, fixed-route buses, and SmaRT Ride for free on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, 2022.
The free ride offer includes veterans, active military, and reservists. SacRT will also extend the offer of a free ride to military family members traveling with them as a way to thank all those who have sacrificed for our country. To ride free on Friday, November 11, active military must show SacRT’s Veterans Day free ride flier (print or electronic) along with their Active Military Access Card (CAC). Retired military and family members are asked to present their Uniformed Service Identification Card, a California Driver License, or Identification card with the Veteran Designation with the free ride flier. Both the ID and flier must be presented to the driver when boarding a bus, or be available to show fare inspectors when riding light rail.