Port of Oakland Approves AirBART Shuttle Fare Increase
-- AirBART Fares Unchanged Since 1985 --
The Port of Oakland approved a fare increase for AirBART shuttle service, which operates between Oakland International Airport (OAK) and the BART Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station, to take effect March 1, 2007. Increasing the AirBART basic one-way fare to $3.00, from the $2.00 rate established in 1985, is necessary to purchase replacements for the aging fleet and additional buses to meet increased demand.
The five 40-foot-long AirBART shuttles, manufactured in 1998, have over 500,000 miles each which is beyond the fleet's expected life. More shuttles are needed to serve the growing demand for AirBART which served almost 1.3 million riders in 2006, a year-over-year increase of 5.7 percent. Increased fares will allow the Port and BART to purchase a larger fleet of new, alternative-fuel buses.
The revised AirBART fares, which take effect March 1, 2007, follow:
"AirBART's convenient and inexpensive train-to-plane service continues to grow in popularity with environmentally-conscious Oakland International travelers and employees," said Steven Grossman, Director of Aviation. "With increased fares, the Port and BART will have the resources to significantly improve the travel experience for the over one million AirBART users annually."
AirBART operates between OAK and the BART Coliseum station daily, approximately every 10 minutes, until midnight. Service begins at 5 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and at 8 a.m. on Sundays and holidays. Shuttle stops for Terminals 1 and 2 are located at OAK's second curbside.
Effective February 28, 2007, AirBART shuttles at OAK will drop-off and pick-up riders at the newly reconstructed third curbside, part of OAK's multi-phased $300 million Terminal Improvement Program. Upon completion of the program, AirBART shuttles will return to OAK's second curbside which will also be renovated.
AirBART, a joint operation of the Port of Oakland and BART, has been serving OAK travelers, employees and other users since the late-1970's. Today's fare structure has been in effect since 1985.
OAK has over 200 flights a day on 12 domestic and international carriers to 40 nonstop destinations, including Atlanta, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, the Hawaiian Islands, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Mexico and seasonal service to the Azores (Portugal), Sun Valley, Idaho and Vancouver.
OAK's $300 million Terminal Improvement Program is designed to add convenience, security and customer service to the travel experience by using "green building" technology. In Terminal 2, the program includes the recently opened seven-gate concourse, baggage claim, passenger screening area and in-line explosives detection baggage screening system. By summer 2007, expanded ticketing, a food court and shopping area will open. Additional improvements to the terminal roadway and curbsides will improve access and ease traffic congestion in front of both terminals. Once completed in 2008, the program will accommodate the needs of OAK's over 14 million annual passengers.
Oakland International Airport is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland. OAK has served the travel needs of San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors for 80 years. Visit oaklandairport.com for more information.
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