California public-private partnership proposes new Dumbarton Rail Bridge

The San Mateo County Transit District and Cross Bay Transit Partners LLC — a collaboration between the investment firm Plenary Group and Facebook — have formed a public-private partnership (P3) aimed at improving transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The P3 will explore "new, environmentally appropriate alternatives for a high-capacity public transit system," including reconstruction of the Dumbarton Rail Bridge to connect the East Bay and San Francisco Peninsula, according to Cross Bay's website.

The proposed transit connection — estimated at about $2 billion — would use the existing freight corridor to transport commuters on the Dumbarton Bridge, The Mercury News reported. The freight corridor is currently defunct.

As part of the project planning process, Cross Bay and the San Mateo district held four community meetings to solicit public feedback on the project's goals, funding, timeline and process.

The project area spans the southern part of the San Francisco Bay and touches San Mateo and Alameda counties, according to the website.

A timeline for the project calls for community outreach to extend into third-quarter 2019; an environmental analysis to begin this year; federal, state and local agency agreements to be considered this year into next year; technical feasibility to be explored starting now through Q3 2020; and a commercial and financial analysis to be prepared by Q3 2020.