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We've talked about about the BART/SFO connection a whole bunch so today we have news from the other side, the Oakland airport. We know, we know, it's scary over there, but for those who haven't ventured over to that side to fly out, it's not half bad, actually.
The easiest way of getting to the Oakland airport is AirBart. AirBart is a bus service that runs from the Oakland Coliseum BART station to the airport. It's only two bucks (plus whatever the BART fare comes to) and is fairly quick and reliable. But like other transit agencies, it's a little short on cash these days. So say hello to a fare increase, that being of $1 meaning, the total fare now is…let's see…one plus two equals...ummm…three bucks. But because it's the holiday season and because everyone is trying to get out of here, they're going to wait next year to raise the fees. The money, actually, is supposed to the purchase of some new two new natural-gas-powered buses and to maintain them. Also to pay for the Port Commission's new executive director's raise.
It was also decided to give out $10 coupons for the Oakland airport parking lots. The problem here is that there's so many cheaper lots around the airport that people aren't using the airport lots. That means less money to the airport. So if you go to the web site or call, you can get a coupon mailed to you.
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You're crazy if you pay $3 for AirBART when there's an AC transit bus (the 50) that goes along the same route for $1.75/$0.85. Almost as fast, and runs just as frequently if not more frequently than AirBART.
The 50, however, makes various stops along the route, whereas AirBART is a shuttle. I'm pretty sure Tom is correct about the frequency - I remember waiting for AirBART and taking the 58 (in the pre-50 days) the last time I flew out of Oakland, though this was 6 years ago.
A reader was confused over the parking coupons so I just wanted to clarify that the coupons won't be available until January or February. It's not on the site yet and I'm thinking they won't be up there until 2007.
You know, just in time for the holiday rush.
What ever happened to that monorail that was supposed to whisk us from the platform at the Colesium BART straight to the airport at no extra cost? It was supposed to be ready by like 2009 or so. We voted for a bond measure that would pay for it and a bunch of other transportation projects. I guess it was a bait and switch proposal. $3 for that sucky bus?
3dollarsucks, your memory is correct. But it would have been a dumb idea, in my humble opinion. Really, both buses are pretty okay. A monorail would be nicer and might pump up Oakland's civic ego a bit, but trains aren't cheap--look at how much it costs BART to extend itself to another suburb every decade or so. They only belong in really dense corridors like Market or Geary or really convenient ones like Caltrain along the peninsula. If Oakland wants to invest in rail, I think it ought to do so by building a streetcar downtown.
no, no, don't fly out of oakland!! stay over there in your side of the bay. over here, it's too crowded, too many people! and yes, too SCARY. yup, better to stay OVER THERE, frisco peeps