The First Transcontinental Railroad right of way through the Tri-Valley was deeded to Alameda County by Southern Pacific Railroad in 1984. Altamont Commuter Expresscommuter rail service began between Stockton and San Jose in 1998 using the Union Pacific right of way over Altamont Pass. A similar plan to run diesel multiple unit trains across Altamont Pass was proposed by BART in 2003, though it comprised a larger service area. In 2017, citing lack of interest in bringing BART service directly to Livermore from the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, the Livermore City Council proposed a newly established local entity to undertake planning and construction of the extension, which was also recommended by the California State Assembly Transportation Committee. Assembly Bill 758 was signed by Governor of CaliforniaJerry Brown on October 13, 2017, formally establishing the Authority. On May 24, 2018, the BART board voted against a full rapid transit BART build or a bus rapid transit system to extend service east from Dublin/Pleasanton station. A final feasibility report was released in October 2019. The buildout cost to North Lathrop was estimated at between $1.88 billion and $3.21 billion, with an expected start of operations between the second quarter of 2027 and the fourth quarter of 2028. A draft environmental impact report is expected in October 2020. Scott Haggerty, one of the founders of the TVSJVRRA, noted that the popularity of the project was reflected in the volume of public comments to the feasibility report.
Rail service
Valley Link is a plan to utilize diesel multiple units or electric multiple units along the former First Transcontinental Railroad right-of-way through the Altamont Pass and in the Interstate 580 median through the city of Livermore. Trains would initially run from River Islands at Lathrop to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station with stops in the Tracy area and potential transfer stations with ACE at Greenville Road in Livermore and North Lathrop. Weekday service would connect to every other BART train at Dublin/Pleasanton. The developer of River Islands has offered to cover the cost of station construction in exchange for the ability to build a transit village at the site. In 2018, Stadler met with the governing board to discuss traction sources; diesel multiple unit or diesel / battery electric hybrid vehicles will likely serve the route. AECOM was contracted to perform a feasibility study for the project that same year. The loading gauge of highway underpasses limits the selection of rolling stock.
