AirBART
| Company type | Automated guideway transit line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 22, 2014 |
| Founder | Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California , United States |
Area served | Oakland, California metropolitan area |
| Owner | Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) |
| Website | www |
The Oakland Airport Connector is an automated guideway transit (AGT) line managed by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) that links the Coliseum station with the Oakland International Airport station. Displayed in grey on BART transit maps, it is fully integrated into BART’s fare collection system. Service commenced on November 22, 2014, replacing the longstanding AirBART shuttle bus service that operated from July 1, 1977. Currently, the system connects two terminal stations, with future plans considering an intermediate stop at Doolittle station.
In , the connector handled an annual ridership of passengers, averaging about daily on weekdays as of .
Operations
Operated by BART and incorporated within its fare structure, the Oakland Airport Connector employs a distinct fleet of cable-driven AGT vehicles running on dedicated guideways separate from BART’s rail tracks. Built by Doppelmayr Cable Car, the system aims for a 4.5-minute frequency (currently set at 6 minutes) and completes a one-way journey in approximately 8 minutes, maintaining over 99.5% punctuality. The initial rolling stock consists of four trains each made up of three cars with a capacity of 113 passengers per train, expandable to four trains with four cars accommodating up to 148 passengers each.
The operation utilizes four separate cable loops arranged in a pinched-loop configuration, each loop carrying one train. These loops converge into single tracks near the endpoints. During each trip, trains automatically transfer between cables four times, including at a control point near Hegenberger Road and Airport Access Road where four 12-foot drive wheels propel the cables.
Spanning 3.2 miles, the AGT route primarily runs elevated along the median of Hegenberger Road, featuring one underground segment beneath Doolittle Drive and a brief ground-level section before transitioning onto an elevated guideway within airport grounds. Midway along the line is a maintenance and storage facility staffed by a two-person crew who oversee operations from a centralized control room.
Fare gates for the airport station are located at Oakland Coliseum Station, positioned between the dedicated airport platform and the elevated walkway linking to the original platform. Both stations are equipped with platform screen doors—a pioneering feature within BART’s system.
The corridor is paralleled by AC Transit Route 73, which offers less frequent but more economical service during peak periods. Additionally, Routes 73 and 805 provide overnight transit options when both the Oakland Airport Connector and BART services are unavailable.
Fares
On June 12, 2014, BART’s board established a base fare of US$6 for travel on the Oakland International Airport AGT line, while allowing for temporary promotional pricing. Discounts of 62.5% apply to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and children aged twelve or younger. By November 2016, the system operated with a farebox recovery ratio of 96%. Despite this efficiency, competition from rideshare services led to revenues falling short of projections, resulting in an operational deficit totaling US$860,000 between 2014 and 2016.
AirBART
Initiated on July 1, 1977, AirBART was a shuttle bus service connecting Oakland Coliseum station (later renamed Coliseum/Oakland Airport) with airport terminals. The trip lasted approximately ten minutes and initially cost fifty cents. This service was established as a collaboration between BART and the Port of Oakland, which manages the airport.
While operating under BART branding, AirBART was managed by private contractors: Veolia Transport (Shuttleport) from 2001 until 2012 and subsequently by Ampco until service ended in 2014. Around 2008, its fleet transitioned from diesel-powered buses to compressed natural gas vehicles.
Prior to its discontinuation, AirBART ran daily from 5:00 am (starting at 8:00 am on Sundays) until midnight with roughly ten-minute intervals aligned with BART’s operating hours. Travel times were subject to variation due to traffic congestion caused by commuters and events at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. Passengers paid a $3 fare using exact change or ticket vending machines; however, Clipper Card readers were never installed because of disagreements over fare equipment costs between BART and the Port of Oakland.
Ridership declined from about 2,800 daily passengers in 2008 to roughly 1,900 by 2014. AirBART ceased operations on November 22, 2014, coinciding with the launch of the Oakland Airport Connector. The buses were retained for one week as backup vehicles before being reassigned as airport parking shuttles to replace older diesel buses.
Funding
The project's US$484 million budget was financed through a combination of sources: local government contributions accounted for US$275 million (57%), state funding provided US$79 million (16%), federal assistance amounted to US$25 million (5%), and BART covered US$106 million (22%) through deficit spending.
In late 2009, shortly before the construction contract was awarded, the project experienced a setback of US$70 million. This occurred after the US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) identified that BART had not complied with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the FTA found that BART failed to assess potential disproportionate effects on minority and low-income populations, prompting the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to reallocate funds accordingly.
By September 2010, all previously withheld federal and state funds were reinstated. The official groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 20, 2010, with prominent attendees including BART Director Carole Ward Allen, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, State Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, and Oakland City Councilman Larry Reid.