Oakland, CA
Bay Area Rapid Transit, Earthquake Safety Program
Scope/Solutions
Carrying about 360,000 commuters every day, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is an important part of the region’s transportation infrastructure. Knowing that the transit system could experience a major earthquake, BART initiated the Earthquake Safety Program to upgrade vulnerable and high-volume sections of the system to help them quickly reinstate service following an event. Under a term contract, SGH performed seismic assessments and assisted with upgrading this critical transit system.
Over a four-year period, SGH assessed the seismic vulnerability of station buildings and platforms, repair yard facilities, control towers, administrative offices, and parking garages system-wide. Highlights of our work include the following:
- Performed seismic evaluations and developed preliminary upgrade designs for seven elevated parking structures, maintenance facilities at Hayward and Daly City stations, administrative offices, and system control towers
- Developed seismic criteria for designing new parking structures and retrofitting existing parking structures
- Peer reviewed a seismic evaluation of the McArthur station
- Mentored and provided technical review for BART in-house engineers performing upgrades of some buildings and structures
- Acted as the engineer for record for the seismic upgrades of the Pleasant Hill parking structure, designed new shear walls within the frames adjacent to the speed ramps, and developed a solution resulting in no loss of parking spaces and allowing construction while the structure remained in service
Photo by Nick Fisher
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Project Summary
2008
Completion Date
Solutions
Repair & Rehabilitation
Services
Structures
Markets
Infrastructure & Transportation
Specialized Capabilities
Seismic Engineering
Key team members
Additional Projects
Northeast
MBTA Bus Repair Garage
The building includes three garage bays, offices, and locker facilities for the bus operators and repair staff. When an elevated concrete floor slab in one of the bays failed under the weight of a bus wheel, the MBTA retained SGH to investigate.
Northeast
MassBiologics, Stormwater Retention System
Following partial collapse of the chambers in 2006, SGH investigated the cause of failure and recommended remedial action. We subsequently provided consulting services for redesigning and installing a replacement system.