Oakland Airport Connector Offers Many Benefits
-- Improved Customer Service and Competitiveness for the Airport; 5,000 New Jobs for the Region --
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland International Airport (OAK) is pleased to partner with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) on the BART-Oakland International Airport Connector (Connector), an extremely important project that will enhance customer service and contribute to the airport's competitive position. The Connector will generate economic benefits to OAK, the city of Oakland, and the region, as it will create thousands of new jobs.
"Oakland International congratulates BART and the many other agencies involved in awarding contracts to construct the long-awaited Oakland Airport Connector," said Deborah Ale Flint, acting director of aviation for the airport, which is owned and operated by the Port of Oakland. "By the end of 2013, travelers will enjoy a more seamless, comfortable, environmentally friendly, and faster connection between the airport and BART's Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station. Additionally, the Connector will bring improved air service and economic benefits to the airport and the East Bay Area," she continued.
BART's Oakland Airport Connector will replace the current AirBART bus service, and will offer the following benefits:
- predictable connections and certainty in travel time;
- Automated People Movers arriving every 4.5 minutes, with eight-minute trips between the airport and BART; and
- comfortable and state-of-the-art vehicles, that offer flexibility for increased capacity during peak travel seasons, and environmentally friendly cable propulsion technology.
The Connector is an integral part of OAK's strategic plan to continue to attract new air service, and remain competitive among airports in the Bay Area, and across the nation. Air carriers currently serving OAK, as well as potential new airlines, have offered their unanimous support of this project. The improved ground access, combined with OAK's industry-leading aeronautical reliability, is a winning combination for airport growth. Upon completion of the Connector, Oakland will join other major metropolitan centers such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York/JFK, San Francisco, and Seattle in offering a direct regional rail transit system connection between the airport and city center.
The Oakland Airport Connector will generate economic benefits to OAK, the city of Oakland, and the East Bay region by creating 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in the area, according to BART. The project will directly contribute to construction, supplier, and operations and maintenance jobs. Indirectly, more jobs will be created at Oakland International as the Connector will contribute to expanded service by existing and new airlines.
OAK placed into service five new Compressed Natural Gas-fueled AirBART buses this week. While the Connector is being constructed, the new fleet of AirBART shuttles will provide a more comfortable and environmentally friendly ride.
The Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK, will contribute $45.4 million toward the Connector for design, construction, and operation and maintenance costs. The Port will fund this contribution through Passenger Facility Charges, a federal program which allows airlines to collect up to $4.50 for every enplaned passenger.
About the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the third busiest containerport on the U.S. West Coast. Oakland International Airport offers over 140 daily nonstop departures to 34 destinations; and the Port's real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square, and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Visit portofoakland.com and oaklandairport.com for more information.
-OAK-
