BART seeks Fremont Station TOD proposals—Phase 1 due July 16

Fremont CA commuters who rely on driving to BART have a key date on the calendar: Bay Area Rapid Transit is accepting proposals for Phase 1 transit-oriented development (TOD) at Fremont Station. Proposals are due July 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (local time).

BART says the solicitation is aimed at selecting a developer who will work with BART and the community to establish, build, and manage the first phase of TOD at the station’s east parking lot. BART describes the Phase 1 area as an approximately 8-acre site on the northeast side of Fremont Station—and its TOD page notes the hub page has been updated June 2026.

Where Phase 1 would be planned

BART’s published TOD materials describe Phase 1 as predominantly residential, with ground-floor retail and services to activate the station area. The plan also leaves room for potential public open space.

Parking requirement during Phase 1: about 700 spaces

One of the biggest practical questions for riders is what happens to parking while construction and development are underway. In the RFP, BART says parking replacement is not required for TOD Phase 1.

Instead, the RFP sets a requirement that roughly 700 BART rider parking spaces must be maintained throughout the build-out of TOD Phase 1. BART says that can be accomplished by retaining surface parking in areas outside the developable Phase 1 property—using the phasing approach shown in the RFP materials.

Affordability requirement in the solicitation

BART also makes affordability a core requirement in the solicitation. The RFP says the Fremont TOD would follow BART’s adopted Affordable Housing Policy, including a minimum of 20% affordable housing for lower-income households.

How small businesses can participate

The Phase 1 RFP includes a specific “Small Business” participation section. BART says it strongly encourages small business participation in all phases of the project and asks proposers to take steps to provide an equal opportunity for small businesses to participate.

For businesses trying to understand whether they can be part of a team, the RFP points to actions like outreach, advertising in publications expected to reach small businesses, and participation in BART-sponsored networking events. The RFP also requires teams to indicate a small-business participation commitment (covering both predevelopment and construction) and notes that submissions are scored based on the commitment percentage.

What to watch next after the July 16 deadline

Because this is still an RFP process (not an awarded contract), the next steps won’t be a done deal until BART completes evaluation.

Still, the RFP schedule gives residents and riders two concrete “watch” dates: BART lists a shortlist announcement on August 15, 2026 and interviews on August 24–25, 2026.

After July 16, 2026, commuters and nearby residents will want to look closely at how the winning team proposes to maintain the parking requirement during phasing—and how affordability and small-business plans are translated into the actual project program.

Sources

• BART Fremont Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) page (Phase 1 hub/updates)
• BART Board goals/objectives for TOD at Fremont BART Station (Legistar PDF)