Recent Press
Photo courtesy Ben Matlaw
It was one of Oakland’s most important neighborhoods. Here’s the plan to restore it to its former glory
Nothing of Old West San Antonio remains. But a new infill BART station could help jump-start a revitalization.
By Mitchell Schwarzer, Gordon Douglas and Ben Matlaw
March 29, 2025
79.2%
Non-white residents
The San Antonio neighborhood is a majority community of color that has been historically excluded from accessible transit options, leaving residents who need it most without adequate transportation.
16,000
People per square mile
We are a dense, diverse, underserved, and growing population. Transit access will open up access to jobs and housing for our residents, as well as increase safety and economic vitality.
2.7 mi.
Between nearest stops
Most urban stations are 1-2 miles apart. San Antonio Station would fill in the longest urban stretch of track without a stop. Close proximity the Oakland waterfront, Brooklyn Basin, San Antonio Park, and Highland Hospital, cements its role as a crucial location for regional access.
We need Oakland's support.
14th Avenue in East Oakland sits in the middle of the longest stretch of BART track in Oakland without a station - nearly 3 miles!
Our Cause
Our community continues to grow, and we have an increasing need for safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible transit options that will connect us to the rest of the region. SASA is a group of citizens actively engaged in the effort to build a station at 14th Avenue.
Our Mission
Regional transportation agencies are in the process of developing plans to determine where the next regional transit lines and stations will be built around the Bay Area. We are engaging with leadership to ensure San Antonio station is a priority development.
Our Goal
We believe a regional rail station in the San Antonio neighborhood along the existing BART and Amtrak tracks is an essential project for both the local community and the larger region. We are urging our transportation agency leaders and elected officials to prioritize, fund, and build San Antonio Station to bring a much-needed mobility option and economic development opportunity to our historically underserved community.
The demographics speak for themselves.
What needs to be done?
Where we are
A new station is going to take a lot of buy-in from various public agencies and elected officials. The first step to getting this station built is to get it into upcoming regional plans such as Link21, Transit 2050+, and the BART Strategic Plan. This is going to require putting pressure on these agencies and public officials via our neighborhood petition and public participation during the community outreach and engagement phase of these plans.
Down the track
With this first step in place, we can begin identifying funding for a station feasibility study, detailed designs, and - eventually - the construction of the station in our neighborhood.
It's a long process, but we're committed to seeing it through!
Community Voices:
Over 1,400 petition signatures.
Local Endorsement:
Backed by dozens of respected businesses and organizations.
People Power:
A dedicated community of 80+ volunteers committed to developing San Antonio Station.
Civic Partnerships:
Strong collaboration with key political stakeholders.
PROGRESS
MAPS
Connecting Our Past, Building Our Future.
The San Antonio district's history is woven with transit – from the Peralta family's bustling shipping trade to the historic Brooklyn Wharf. We envision a future that honors this legacy, where vibrant streets, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and seamless Bay Area access revitalize our community. Explore our interactive maps to see how strategic transit infrastructure can empower our growing neighborhood.
(left) Map illustrating the existing BART network in Oakland and Berkeley juxtaposed against the area’s 2020 population density
Oscar Hernandez-Gomez, 2025
Donate.
How can you help? Consider donating to our campaign with the GoFundMe link! Every little bit helps keep the lights on at the website, and gets us support to print flyers, banners, buttons, all that good stuff.
We don't have any sponsors, but we would appreciate any help you can offer!
If you prefer to do so privately, please email us here.
