Two Berkeley BART stations could have nearly 1,000 fewer parking spaces once hundreds of on-site housing units are constructed.
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The agency publicly shared its parking proposals for the Ashby and North Berkeley stations for the first time in a community meeting on Wednesday, revealing it envisions 85 spaces at Ashby and 200 in the main and auxiliary lots at North Berkeley. BART is hoping to begin construction on mixed-income housing at the stations in 2025. The Berkeley City Council set aside more than $50 million last year to ensure both developments have at least 35% affordable housing.
BART currently has 535 spaces at the Ashby station, and 700 in North Berkeley. Should the agency's proposals move forward, the stations would lose a combined 935 parking spaces as part of the housing projects.
This is by design, according to BART. The agency said 82% of Ashby riders already get there without parking, and the same can be said for 75% of North Berkeley riders. Eighty-one percent of Ashby riders can reach the station within a 15-minute walk, bus trip or bike ride, as can 64% of North Berkeley riders, according to the agency's data.
BART also said it is prioritizing "transit-oriented development" in an effort to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, striving initially for "no or limited parking replacement" at the stations.
In order to address residents' concerns, including about riders parking in nearby neighborhoods, BART said it will explore expanding Berkeley's permit parking program. The city, meanwhile, will examine opening up additional paid, street parking, as well as pointing commuters to a downtown parking garage.
The Berkeley City Council will hold a worksession on the BART housing project at 6 p.m. on April 19. Officials will not vote on the agency's parking proposals until later this year.
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