The State - News from June 11, 1989

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system will seek state financing to make up a whopping $200-million shortfall for one of its first planned extensions of the system, officials said. Original estimates of the 12-mile extension into the Livermore-Pleasanton Valley from San Leandro was originally estimated at $181 million. But engineers for the Bechtel group recently told BART directors that it will cost $382 million. BART officials said the original study was not detailed enough to accurately project costs. Transit directors assured Bay Area residents, who have long lobbied for expanding the 70-mile system, that they are still committed to launching train service to the valley by 1995. The officials said they probably will seek money from the state gas tax and statewide transportation bond issues.