BART officials weigh earthquake safety options

Bay Area Rapid Transit's (BART) board plans to convene later today to address long-term earthquake retrofitting needs for the Berkeley Hills Tunnel, which runs from Oakland to Orinda, Calif.

Experts from BART's Earthquake Safety Program will present a feasibility study for retrofitting the portion of the tunnel that crosses the Hayward Fault. They'll also speak on seismic conditions of the tunnel and give an overview of the various retrofit options.

First established in 2000, the Earthquake Safety Program operates under a $1.3 billion budget, with a majority of its funds coming from the California Department of Transportation. The program also receives funding from general obligation bonds and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The meeting will cover future geological and seismic scenarios as well, according to a BART press release.