BART to charge for parking
Jan 14, 2010 | 395 views | 0 0 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend | print
East County commuters will begin paying a dollar a day to park at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station on Jan. 19. Park and Ride lots, however, will remain free of charge to all patrons and provide easy access to BART via express bus service from Tri Delta Transit.

BART remains a major vehicle for East County commuters. Extending BART to Antioch and beyond in East Contra Costa County remains a continuous topic of discussion. “Until it happens, Tri Delta Transit’s Express Route 300 is the next best thing,” said Director of Marketing Mike Furnary. “With Park and Ride lots, someone in Brentwood, for example, need only drive one or two miles to get to BART – instead of 18.”

“The additional dollar you’ll now pay for parking is better applied toward a bus ride to BART,” said Furnary. “You won’t have to drive, plus you’ll save on gas, wear and tear on your vehicle and pollution. You also won’t have to worry that you might not even find a parking space once you get to the BART station.”

Parking at the Pittsburg BART station, even when free, is often difficult to find. Most non-reserved spaces are filled before 8 a.m., forcing commuters to drive further to North Concord and beyond in hopes of finding parking, adding to their already grinding commute.

Express buses operated by Tri Delta Transit provide non-stop service to BART from Antioch and limited-stop service from Brentwood and Oakley. “Our express buses travel to BART 33 times every weekday starting as early as 4:15 a.m., so there’s a bus to meet every work schedule.”

An additional benefit of taking the bus to BART is station-front drop off. “This is a service that our customers truly appreciate, especially during the cold and rainy season,” said Furnary. All Tri Delta Transit buses drop passengers off at the entrance to the BART station. After which they pull to their designated stall to pick up new passengers. “It’s a long walk from the end of the BART parking lot, even longer when it’s raining or 100 degrees outside.”

When you take into account new parking fees at BART, plus gas and wear and tear on your vehicle, it becomes even more economical to make the bus part of your daily commute. Tri Delta Transit offers a 2-for-1 pass as incentive for new riders to take the bus.

“Through a partnership with 511 Contra Costa, new riders can obtain two, 20-ride passes for Express Route 300 to BART for the price of one,” said Furnary. “That’s about a month’s worth of rides for just $30.”

A 2-for-1 deal is also available for Delta Express commuter service to Dublin BART and Hacienda Business Park in Pleasanton. Delta Express serves Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood, Discovery Bay and Mountain House.

Tri Delta Transit operates 14 local bus routes weekdays, including Express Route 300 to BART and Commuter Route 390 to BART as well as three weekend routes and Delta Express luxury commuter service to Dublin BART and Hacienda Business Park in Pleasanton.

To learn which bus best meets your needs, or to apply for a 2-for-1 bus pass, visit www.trideltatransit.com or call 925-754-6622.
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