In 1989, BART undertook an extensive program to expand the original system. The East and West Bay extensions projects consisted of five new stations (Pittsburg/Antioch, Concord/Martinez, Dublin/Pleasanton, Castro Valley, and Colma) and almost 34 miles of new double track. The extension to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) comprised 8.7 miles of new track and four new BART stations (South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and an intermodal station at the airport). These programs totaled over $3.5 billion, and BART made a focused effort to optimize small local, minority, and disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firm participation in the projects, engaging a DBE consultant and undertaking a formal DBE program for the first time.

Services Provided: The Allen Group worked closely with BART’s Office of Civil Rights to ensure the full participation of DBE construction, architectural, and engineering firms in designing and building the projects. The Allen Group team was responsible for: working with BART staff to revise standard contract documents to include specific DBE content; providing DBE outreach services (e.g., presentations, workshops, town hall meetings, matchmaking, etc.); publishing a quarterly DBE newsletter; developing a database; advertising contracting opportunities; issuing monthly DBE participation reports; and monitoring DBE construction activities to ensure compliance with BART’s program. The Allen Group also supported the program management consultant team with identifying and hiring more than 200 professionals.