Facebook, SamTrans talk bridge partnership

While neither SamTrans nor Facebook confirmed what was on the table, both noted the benefits of a strong public-private partnership to fuel congestion relief.

“Facebook shares the goal of addressing traffic congestion in the south county and improving mobility options along the Dumbarton corridor. But how exactly we can work together with them to do that, we’re hoping to learn more with these conversations,” said SamTrans’ Chief Communications Officer Seamus Murphy.

The social media company has already shown an interest in transit improvements and spent $1.2 million in 2016 to revive the public agency’s recently completed Dumbarton Corridor Study. That technical overview offered suggestions ranging from short-term improvements on the car bridge, to long-term projects including a complete rehabilitation of the century-old defunct rail crossing. But transportation projects don’t come cheap, and creating a new Dumbarton train route across the San Francisco Bay is estimated to cost nearly $1.3 billion.

Transit advocates hope to forge partnerships with some of the region’s major employers who they hope will invest in easing commutes. SamTrans CEO Jim Hartnett alerted the transit agency’s board of directors about the ongoing discussions with Facebook earlier this month, however, Murphy stressed it’s still preliminary.

“We don’t know what is within the realm of what’s possible, that’s what these initial discussions with Facebook are about. At this state, it’s discussing what our shared goals are and how we can work together to try and achieve those goals in the most expeditious way,” Murphy said. “No commitments have been made. … It’s way too early to make any assumptions about dollar amounts.”

Other funding efforts

Facebook, which employs thousands of workers at its sprawling corporate headquarters near the juncture of Highway 84 and Willow Road, has previously doled out funding to address the impacts of its growth.

In late 2016, it announced a $20 million contribution and commitment toward affordable housing efforts in Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. Facebook’s funds came as neighboring communities and nonprofits expressed concerns about gentrification and the impacts of the expanding corporate giant.   

At the time the donation was publicly announced, Facebook representatives responded with enthusiasm for maintaining a vibrant community and collaborating on efforts to expand housing, transportation and employment opportunities across the region.

While discussions with SamTrans are ongoing, a Facebook representative noted the company’s prior financial contributions and interest in exploring opportunities along Dumbarton.

“Since we are committed to helping reduce traffic congestion, we continue to partner with SamTrans to explore ways of improving traffic and transit options on the Dumbarton corridor,” Facebook Corporate Communications Director Anthony Harrison said in an email.

In early 2016, the company’s $1 million donation sparked a revival of SamTrans’ study that included the burned-down rail bridge owned by the transit district, as well as the Highway 84 car bridge. Ideas include creating express lanes along the state-owned vehicle bridge, increasing express bus service and improvements to the approaches on either end. The plans also suggest rehabilitating the old train line immediately to the south, with eventual extensions that could connect the Peninsula’s Caltrain line to rail services in the East Bay such as BART and Capital Corridor.

While there’s currently no dedicated funding for Dumbarton improvements, supporters have noted opportunities in the state’s gas tax increase as well as $130 million from Regional Measure 3 should voters approve bridge toll hikes.

San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum, whose district includes communities surrounding the Dumbarton Bridge and Facebook, has been advocating for congestion-relief improvements. Slocum said he hopes the ongoing discussions between Facebook and SamTrans could pave the way for other employers to step up and offer support in a regional push for congestion relief.

If Facebook “takes these next steps, I know they’re going to draw in some of their technology brothers and sisters,” Slocum said.

Private/public partnerships

In a region where high-paying tech jobs have flooded the Bay Area, many have been pushed to the outskirts in search of more affordable housing options. Along with population growth, the jobs-to-housing imbalance has fueled regional traffic congestion. Slocum noted Facebook is a powerful market force and there could be concerns as to what terms the company might suggest in exchange for potential transportation dollars.

But until details are worked out, both SamTrans and others remained tight-lipped about the negotiations. Still, with public dollars for infrastructure improvements a hot commodity, leaders across the nation have suggested partnering with private industries as an opportunity.

“It’s a concept that is being explored more aggressively, not just here but everywhere and government is working to try to make it easier generally for public agencies and the private sector to cooperate on achieving shared goals. We’re lucky in our region and our county to have private sector employers who are excited about having these conversations,” Murphy said. “We’ll just have to wait and see what kind of fruit it bears.”

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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Twitter: @samantha_weigel