BART presents Berkeley‑El Cerrito Corridor Access Plan; recommends substantial parking reductions and multimodal investments

Rachel Factor, BART principal planner for Berkeley stations, presented the Berkeley‑El Cerrito Corridor Access Plan (BCAP), a multi‑year, community‑informed effort to manage parking, expand multimodal access, and fund station access improvements as transit‑oriented development proceeds. Factor said the plan combines technical analysis and public outreach to balance parking tradeoffs with TOD goals and lists dozens of station and corridor strategies.

BCAP recommends rider‑parking maximums arrived at after assessing walk/bike/bus sheds and likely mode shifts: for Ashby, staff recommended a maximum of 85 on‑site BART rider spaces (about 16% of current 535 spaces); for North Berkeley, a maximum of 200 spaces (about 29% of current 700). Factor emphasized the tradeoffs: parking structure spaces are costly ("about $80,000 per space" in their cost comps), and more parking reduces developable space and community benefits. The plan identifies potential funding sources, notes constraints (redevelopment agencies no longer exist) and catalogs grant opportunities already secured (BART has secured over $39 million in station access funds for corridor projects).

Council members asked detailed questions about assumptions behind the walk/bike/bus sheds, topography, how riders outside the 15‑minute sheds would reach stations, and coordination with AC Transit. Factor said the recommendations are grounded in survey data and corridor‑level analysis; she acknowledged limits (operator capacity, uncertain long‑term funding) and said BART will continue advocacy and pursue grants. Public commenters asked for incentives to help car‑dependent riders transition to transit and stressed safety, lighting and accessibility for last‑mile connections. BART and councilmembers agreed on the need for ongoing coordination across agencies and for equitable solutions for riders who lack alternatives.