Ashby station (BART)
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | January 29, 1973 |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California , United States |
Area served | San Francisco Bay Area |
| Products | Bay Area Rapid Transit services (Orange and Red lines) |
Ashby station is a subterranean Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) facility situated in Berkeley, California, positioned beneath Adeline Street close to Ashby Avenue. The station offers 715 park-and-ride spaces distributed between two parking areas and is served by both the Orange and Red routes.
Station layout
This station features a single underground island platform. The fare mezzanine is located at the same level as the western parking lot and provides access to Adeline Street via stairs and an elevator. Multiple AC Transit bus lines operate around the station perimeter, including:
- Local routes: 7, 12, 18
- Transbay route: F
- All Nighter service: 800
Moreover, the West Berkeley Shuttle offers free transportation linking the station with the West Berkeley neighborhood.
History
The location of Ashby station is near the former site of the Berkeley Branch Railroad’s Newbury station, which commenced operations sometime after 1876. In December 1965, the BART Board selected "Ashby Place" as the official name. Unlike other Berkeley BART stations constructed underground due to additional city taxes, Ashby was exempt from this requirement because of a clause permitting the line to stay above ground. Activist Mable Howard spearheaded campaigns to relocate the BART line underground to prevent division of South Berkeley’s largely Black community. Despite these efforts, the station design remained partially elevated with its mezzanine level aligned with the parking facilities. The use of eminent domain to secure land for parking lots contributed to the diminution of the local Black population. Ashby station began operations on January 29, 1973, as part of the extension between MacArthur and Richmond stations.
Distinctively, ownership of air rights above the parking lots belongs to the City of Berkeley, not BART. Between 2008 and 2010, a portion of the eastern parking area was redeveloped into the Ed Roberts Campus, which accommodates regional disability advocacy organizations. The east lot and its entrance were closed in August 2008 for construction and reopened in April 2010; the campus officially opened in November that year.
The western parking lot serves as a venue for a well-attended weekend flea market. Plans for a residential transit-oriented development (TOD) on this site have generated local debate. In December 2019, Berkeley City Council ratified a memorandum of understanding with BART to collaborate on housing development at this location. By June 2022, housing proposals for Ashby and received approval. However, by July 2023, progress stalled due to disagreements between BART and the city concerning expansion of a BART electrical substation occupying part of the property. In November 2023, BART introduced updated plans addressing substation accommodation, with developer solicitation anticipated by mid-2024.