Creating New Ways to Collaborate and Engage as we Build a Better Future
A transformational Program like Link21, one that will improve our quality of life across Northern California for future generations to come, demands a robust engagement approach to reach the diverse residents and visitors across the 21-county Northern California Megaregion. BART and Capitol Corridor are focused on learning from the past, listening to our communities, and working together to shape and solve our challenges of today and the future. At the core of Link21 is a commitment to equitable engagement designed to reach our megaregional communities, from decision makers and agency leaders to community stakeholders and the general public. Link21's multi-faceted Engagement and Outreach Program proactively creates opportunity for information exchange, convenient participation, and ongoing input gathering. We are continuously collaborating with over 60 public agencies and community-based organizations to find ways to effectively reach our audiences where they are comfortable and have interactive discussions about the future of travel in our Megaregion.
Quick Links
Sign up for Program emails or submit a comment
Document library (see Engagement and Outreach section)
Engagement and Outreach Strategy
The Link21 Program Team implements community outreach holistically to stakeholders through a variety of activities in a cycle of constant engagement touchpoints.
- Informational/Educational Material
- Interactive Website
- Social Media/Media Relations
- Electronic Notifications
- Stakeholder Partnerships
- Briefings/Presentations/Community Tabling Events
- In-Person and Virtual Public Meetings/Workshops
- Survey/Polling
Link with Us and Join the Conversation!
Link21 offers communities and stakeholders a variety of communication and engagement methods; get involved in the best way that works for you.
- Visit our online open houses that remain live at key milestones 24/7 for several weeks
- Join our email list to receive Program updates and event announcements
- Learn about Link21’s Equity Advisory Council and other Program partners and committees
- Share your comments or show your support for the Program
- Request a presentation from or suggest an outreach opportunity to the Link21 Team
Engagement & Outreach by the Numbers
From program kickoff to present, Link21 has been continuously engaging, collaborating and sharing information with stakeholders. As of August 31, 2024:
31
Equity Advisory Council Events
316
Government & Agency Representative Meetings
242
Public/Community Meetings & Events
12
Stakeholder Updates
34,494
Email Subscribers
10,400+
Respondents to Ten Surveys & Polls
What We’ve Heard
Through ongoing conversations, Link21 continues to gather stakeholder and community input.
In fall 2023, a public policy-oriented opinion research company conducted a Link21 online survey to 1,255 registered voters across the 21-county Northern California Megaregion — half of which were from outside the nine-county Bay Area. The goal of the research was to collect information on megaregional commute patterns and transportation needs.
Below are examples of feedback on the top five key themes that have been identified:
Access/Connection
Desire to:
- Walk, bike, or ride transit to stations
- Minimize transfers needed to access destinations
Interest in:
- Link21 concepts providing improved megaregional connections (i.e. North/South Bay, Peninsula, specific East Bay and San Francisco locations, Bay Area airports, Sacramento, Stockton, and Davis)
- Seamless connections between various local and regional transit
Service
Desire for:
- Longer service hours
- Frequent service
- Faster trips
- Reliable service
Interest in:
- Service during weekend afternoons, weekday rush hours, and weekend nights
- Improved safety and cleanliness
Stations
Desire for:
- Stations in certain locations (i.e. Alameda, Oakland, Mission Bay, San Antonio, Jack London Square)
- More station amenities that elevate the passenger experience (i.e. restaurants, convenience stores, coffee shops, etc.)
- Improved signage and wayfinding at stations, especially those with multiple transfer options
Interest in:
- Sales Force Transit Center with multiple transit options
- Stations that are integrated with last-mile service options
- How land use policies around existing stations can be modified for more transit incorporated communities
Equity/Priority Populations
Interest in:
- Options for displaced community members to return to future neighborhood developments
- Fully accessible stations with community benefits (i.e. free Wi-Fi, daycare services, etc.) as part of the Link21 service upgrades
- Learning what factors are utilized to determine a priority area
Concerns about:
- Impacts to historically disadvantaged communities, and racial disparities in transit usage and access
- Community disruptions caused by new station construction
- Displacement from Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) or eminent domain, and gentrification around new stations or other development
- Ensuring information, such as service announcements, maps, and fliers, are available in more languages
Infrastructure and Concepts
Desire for:
- Pedestrian-friendly infrastructure improvements around current and future stations
- Reducing out-of-station transfers
- Continuous updating of crossing for future growth
Interest in:
- Concepts that improve megaregional connections to the Bay Area
- Understanding trade-offs between concepts, how those trade-offs are quantified, and how present concepts were determined
- Benefits of concepts to communities
- Continuous updating of crossing including concepts that could potentially accommodate High-Speed Rail
Engagement Resources
The Link21 Team continues to expand our communications tools to provide updated and timely information to our diverse community members. We have a number of resources found in the Engagement & Outreach drop down menu on the Document Library page.
