Alameda Deserves
Rail Transit
Alameda lost its last rail connection on April 20, 1958. For 68 years, this island of 78,000 residents has been car-dependent - 70,000+ vehicles a day crammed through aging tubes and a drawbridge. Link21 can finally fix that - but only if we fight for a route through Alameda.
Alameda's Transit Problem
Alameda is an island city of 78,117 residents (2020 Census) in the East Bay. Despite being just across the estuary from Oakland and a short distance from San Francisco, Alameda has zero rail transit. Nearly half of residents (46.7%) drive alone to work, only 12.2% use public transit, and the average commute is 32.1 minutes. The only ways on and off the island are:
Webster & Posey Tubes
Two narrow, aging tunnels carrying ~30,000 vehicles/day. The Posey Tube was built in 1928 (nearly 100 years old); Webster in 1963. One-way configuration since 1963. Severe congestion during commute hours. One closure = island gridlock.
AC Transit Buses
Lines 20, 51A, 1T, 6, 840 connect to Oakland; transbay lines W and O reach SF. But buses are caught in the same tube congestion. After AC Transit's August 2025 Realign, several transbay routes (OX, NX1, NX2) were eliminated. Riders must transfer at BART stations for regional access.
SF Bay Ferry
Three terminals: Main Street, Seaplane Lagoon, and Harbor Bay. Seaplane Lagoon averages ~1,500 daily riders (surpassed 1M cumulative in 2025). But parking lots are at 89-97% capacity. Ferry system set a record in March 2026 (300,917 passengers). Growing fast but capacity-constrained.
Bay Farm Island Bridge
Bascule drawbridge (built 1953) carrying 40,000+ vehicles/day. Opens ~360 times per year for boat traffic. Only serves Bay Farm Island / east Alameda. Combined with the tubes, that's 70,000+ daily vehicles on just 3 access points.
The Key System & Big Reds: What Alameda Lost
Alameda was served by two rail systems. The Key System (founded 1903 by Francis "Borax" Smith) ran transbay trains - originally via ferry from the Key Route Pier, then across the Bay Bridge lower deck starting January 15, 1939. At its 1940s peak: 66+ miles of track. The Southern Pacific "Big Reds" ran local Alameda streetcars from 1911 along Encinal Avenue and Lincoln Avenue to the Alameda Pier.
The Big Reds ended July 26, 1941. Key System local streetcars ended November 28, 1948. Transbay trains (the A, B, C, E, and F lines) ended April 20, 1958 - replaced by AC Transit buses with the same letter designations. The dismantling was partly driven by the National City Lines consortium (GM/Standard Oil). Alameda has had zero rail for 68 years.
When BART was built in the 1960s-70s, Alameda was bypassed entirely. The transbay tube was routed from Oakland to SF, skipping the island. Alameda has been paying into the BART tax district ever since - 50+ years of taxes, zero stations.
Link21: Alameda's Once-in-a-Century Chance
Three of the four Link21 alignment concepts route through Alameda. This is the only foreseeable opportunity to bring rail transit to the island. If Link21 bypasses Alameda, the city may wait another 50-100 years.
Concept A: SF → Alameda → Jack London Square
Regional rail from the Salesforce Transit Center, under the Bay to an Alameda station, then continuing to Jack London District in Oakland. Connects to Caltrain at STC and to Oakland's waterfront development area.
Concept E: SF → Alameda → MacArthur BART
Regional rail from STC through Alameda to MacArthur BART station - the major transfer point where three BART lines converge (Yellow, Orange, Red). This gives Alameda direct access to the entire BART network.
Concept F: SF → Alameda → Oakland City Center
Regional rail from STC through Alameda to Oakland City Center near 12th Street BART. Connects Alameda to downtown Oakland's government and employment center.
Where on the Island? Three Potential Station Sites
A UC Berkeley research team (College of Environmental Design) evaluated potential Alameda station sites, ranking them by equity, current conditions, and future development:
Alameda Point (West End)
Most frequently cited in Link21 documents. Adjacent to 878-acre former Naval Air Station development, Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal, and thousands of planned housing units. The leading candidate.
College of Alameda (Mid-Island)
Near Webster Street commercial area, Alameda Landing, and Marina Village. Webster Street connects directly to Oakland via the Webster Tube.
South Shore Center (South Side)
Mixed-use area with development potential. Currently lies beyond proposed alignments but could be revisited.
Concept B: SF → Port of Oakland (Bypasses Alameda)
This concept routes directly from SF to the Port of Oakland, completely bypassing Alameda. It serves fewer residents and misses the opportunity to bring rail to an underserved island community.
Why the Alameda Route Is the Right Choice
Equity & Justice
Alameda residents have paid into the BART tax district for 50+ years without a single station. The island was bypassed by the original BART system and lost its Key System rail in 1958. Routing Link21 through Alameda corrects a historic wrong. Link21's own equity framework prioritizes serving communities impacted by negative mobility outcomes.
Alameda Point: 878 Acres, 2,696 Homes
The former Naval Air Station (878 acres) is becoming a major mixed-use hub with 2,696 planned housing units across four projects: Site A waterfront town center (1,300 units, amended up from 800), North Housing (586 affordable units for seniors, veterans, formerly homeless - Phase 1 broke ground), West Midway (478 units, construction starting Q4 2025), and RESHAP (332 affordable/supportive units). Plus 500,000+ sq ft of commercial space and 200+ acres of parks. The Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal is already operating at near-capacity (89% parking). A Link21 station here creates a rail-ferry-bus interchange anchoring true transit-oriented development.
Congestion Relief
The Webster and Posey Tubes are severe bottlenecks. Thousands of Alameda commuters sit in tube traffic every day. Rail transit through Alameda would take thousands of cars off the road, relieving congestion for everyone - including those who continue to drive.
Climate Resilience
Alameda is an island facing rising sea levels. Reducing car dependence is critical for the city's climate goals. Electric rail transit produces zero direct emissions. And as flooding risks grow, having a sub-bay rail connection provides resilient transportation infrastructure.
Ridership Potential
78,000+ residents with no rail option today = massive latent demand. The Seaplane Lagoon ferry already proves it: 1,500 daily riders and parking lots at 89-97% capacity after just 4 years. Add 2,696 new Alameda Point residents, and the island's proximity to SF and Oakland job centers (median household income $132K - these are commuters), and an Alameda station would have strong ridership from day one.
Link21's Own Analysis Supports This
The Preliminary Business Case (August 2024) explicitly states: "Unmet potential exists in Alameda, which currently doesn't have any train service" and "new rail access in Alameda generates additional ridership." Furthermore, Link21's analysis found that "proposed tunnel alignments serving Alameda are more promising" than concepts skipping it. The project's own data supports the Alameda route. We need to make sure the final decision reflects this.
Network Value
An intermediate Alameda station adds to the network rather than just connecting two endpoints. It creates new trip pairs (Alameda-SF, Alameda-Oakland, Alameda-Sacramento) that don't exist today, maximizing the return on a multi-billion-dollar investment.
Imagine Alameda Connected
With a Link21 station, Alameda transforms from a car-dependent island to a connected node in a regional rail network.
Alameda to San Francisco
Direct rail service under the Bay. No bridges, no tubes, no traffic. A 10-minute ride to the Salesforce Transit Center in the heart of downtown SF.
Alameda to Oakland
Quick connection to Oakland's job centers - Jack London Square, downtown, or MacArthur depending on the alignment. No more sitting in tube traffic.
Alameda to Sacramento
Because Link21 is standard-gauge, the same train that stops in Alameda continues to Sacramento via Capitol Corridor. The megaregion comes to your doorstep.
Car-Free Life Becomes Possible
With rail to SF and Oakland, plus existing ferry and bus service, Alameda residents could realistically live without a car. That's freedom, savings, and a healthier island.
Link21 Is a Housing Project Too
California requires Alameda to plan for 5,353 new housing units by 2031 (RHNA allocation). As of the latest count, only 663 permits have been issued - a massive gap. Cities that fail to meet their housing targets face state penalties including the "Builder's Remedy" (developers can bypass zoning) and loss of state funding.
These 2,696 units at Alameda Point could fill half of Alameda's RHNA gap - but without rail transit, thousands of new residents means thousands of new cars on the already-overwhelmed tubes and bridge. Link21 makes this growth sustainable.
SB 79 (Senator Wiener, signed Oct 2025, effective July 1, 2026) mandates upzoning near transit stations in Alameda County. A Link21 station here would trigger minimum 120 du/acre within 1/4 mile and 100 du/acre within 1/2 mile - by law, no city can go lower. Meanwhile, cities that fall behind on housing face $10,000-$50,000/month penalties under SB 1037. A Link21 station at Alameda Point turns the island's biggest development into a model transit-oriented community and helps Alameda avoid state enforcement.
Demand the Alameda Route
Link21 is in the Project Selection Phase right now. The alignment hasn't been finalized. Public comment directly influences which route gets selected. If Alameda residents and supporters show up in force, the Alameda route becomes the obvious choice.
Submit Public Comment to Link21
Tell Link21 you support a route through Alameda. Be specific: "I support Concepts A, E, or F that include an Alameda station." Mention equity, Alameda Point, and the island's 70+ year lack of rail service.
Submit comment →Push for a City Council Resolution
As of now, Alameda's City Council has NOT passed a formal resolution supporting the Alameda route. They've received informational updates (March 2023, August 2024 Transportation Commission) but haven't taken a position. Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft (term ends 2026), Vice Mayor Malia Vella, and council members Tony Daysog, Trish Herrera Spencer, and John Knox White need to hear from you. A formal resolution would send a powerful signal. The next mayoral election is November 2026 - make Link21 a campaign issue.
Alameda City Council →Contact the BART Board
BART is a co-lead agency for Link21. Tell your BART Board director that the Alameda route serves equity goals and maximizes ridership. Alameda is in BART District 6 (Liz Ames).
BART Board contacts →Attend Link21 Community Meetings
Link21 holds regular community engagement events. Show up, bring neighbors, and make the case for Alameda. Numbers matter - a packed room from Alameda sends a clear message.
Upcoming meetings →Contact Your County Supervisor
Alameda County supervisors have influence over MTC and regional transit decisions. Ask them to champion the Alameda-inclusive route.
Spread the Word in Alameda
Many Alameda residents don't know Link21 could bring rail to the island. Share this page. Post on Alameda community forums, Nextdoor, and social media. The more people who know, the louder the voice.
Sample Public Comment
Feel free to copy, modify, and submit:
"I am an Alameda resident and I strongly support a Link21 alignment that includes a station in Alameda (Concepts A, E, or F). Alameda has been without rail transit since the Key System was dismantled in 1958. Our island of 79,000+ residents has zero rail stations despite being in the BART tax district for over 50 years. The Webster and Posey tubes are severe bottlenecks, and our transit options are limited to buses and ferries. An Alameda station would serve Link21's equity goals, support the Alameda Point development, reduce car dependency on our climate-vulnerable island, and add significant ridership from a community with enormous latent demand for rail transit. This is Alameda's once-in-a-century opportunity. Please do not bypass our community again."
The Window Is Closing
Link21 is in the Project Selection Phase. Once the alignment is locked in and environmental review begins, it becomes exponentially harder to change the route. The time to advocate for Alameda is now, not after the EIR is published.
If the alignment is selected without an Alameda station, the island will have missed its best chance at rail transit for the foreseeable future. Don't let that happen.