The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $544.6 million loan through the Build America Bureau (the Bureau) to the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) for 775 new passenger railcars. 

The new railcars are part of a $2.2 billion expansion and upgrade of the entire BART system that operates 48 million passenger trips annually. 

Build America Bureau Funding

By providing Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans and other financing, the Bureau helps communities expedite infrastructure projects and reduce project costs.  

“Congratulations to BART for implementing the ‘fleet of the future’ that its loyal riders throughout the Bay Area can rely on for the coming decades,” said Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “This investment is a game-changer for the community. It will improve riders’ daily commute and contribute to a more efficient, sustainable, and equitable transportation system.” 

BART’s New Railcars

The new railcars feature many accessibility and safety improvements; LED screens to provide improved customer information; digital cameras to enhance security and crime prevention; and three doors for entry and exit versus the previous two. 

Due to a revised production schedule and accelerated monthly delivery rate of the new railcars, completed in September, the project is expected to save up to $394 million overall compared to original budget estimates. 

Additionally, by financing the cost of the railcars, BART is able to use other capital funds to invest in a new Police Department Headquarters. 

“BART has set the standard for transit providers by quickly delivering an entirely new fleet of modern rail cars for its riders versus a typical replacement project that can take decades to complete,” said Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian. “Utilizing TIFIA and embracing innovative financing enables them to save millions of dollars in the long-term, redeploy some of their funds for other priority projects, and deliver an efficient system-wide upgrade with the modern features and performance upgrades their communities need.” 

New Railcars Creating Jobs

The cars were assembled at the Alstom Manufacturing plant in Plattsburgh, N.Y., supporting the creation of hundreds of new jobs. 

U.S. companies supplied materials and parts used in the train cars, including the propulsion system, the brakes, raw aluminum used for the body, and electrical wiring. 

Locally in the San Francisco Bay Area, jobs were created to support the design, commissioning, warranty, and other activities associated with the project. 

The BART cars feature lightweight aluminum exteriors that reduce energy usage, white roofs that deflect heat to lessen the load on the interior cooling system and improved regenerative braking that returns electricity to the power distribution system. 

Additionally, 100% of BART’s electric traction power comes from clean hydro and renewable sources. 

Since the program was created more than 25 years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation has closed more than $41 billion in TIFIA financing, supporting more than $138 billion in infrastructure investment across the country.