The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) in Livermore, CA, recently broke ground on its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, Tri-Valley Rapid. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) joined the LAVTA Board of Directors, staff, and project team members at the event.

LAVTA has designed Rapid service as a way to lure more people out of their cars, offering service on new buses powered by clean hybrid technology for cleaner emissions, improved fuel economy, and a quieter ride. Stops along the route will offer such enhanced shelter amenities as real-time bus arrival signage, paving, improved way-finding signage, recycling containers, and bike racks for those who want to bike a portion of their commute.

“The Rapid BRT project is a true partnership of federal, state, regional, and local government,” said LAVTA Chair Jerry Thorne. “Specifically, the Rapid received a total of approximately $13.8 million in funding, including $11 million in federal funding; $1.1 million from state Proposition 1B; $1 million in [California] Transportation Development Act funds; $450,000 from the [regional] Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program; $300,000 in Alameda County Measure B and local funding from LAVTA.”

McNerney noted that the BRT route will help reduce congestion along the heavily traveled I-580 corridor, providing service between Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore and a connection to San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) service.

Planning for the project began in 2004 with a BART Corridor Study that analyzed alternatives for extending rail service from the existing Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station to Livermore. While the financial aspects of extending rail to Livermore were daunting, the study showed how BRT could provide service in the near term while consideration continues for a possible future rail option.

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