BART and the City of Hayward have launched a public campaign to select a developer for a transit-oriented, mixed-use, mixed-income project at Hayward Station. Two community open houses are on the calendar - Wednesday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 12 - and an online survey is open through May 15. Officials say community feedback from these efforts will help shape a developer solicitation BART plans to issue this spring.
In an April 24 post on X, BART invited riders and nearby residents to share their priorities and ideas at the open houses and through the survey. That post directs people to the outreach materials along with RSVP details.
BART and the City of Hayward have been collaborating to lay the groundwork for selecting a developer for a transit-oriented, mixed-use, mixed-income development at Hayward Station.
— BART (@SFBART) April 24, 2026
What BART Is Floating For The Station Area
BART’s outreach boards highlight three BART-owned parcels near Hayward Station - roughly 2.5, 2.4 and 2.1 acres - that could be turned into mid-rise housing with ground-floor retail and better station access. The draft objectives emphasize affordable housing, stronger walking and biking connections, placemaking around the station, and growing BART ridership. A final set of objectives is expected to go to the BART Board and then be folded into the developer solicitation. According to materials posted by BART, the outreach boards also include an online survey that closes May 15.
How This Fits Into Hayward’s Bigger Plan
The station project is meant to align with Hayward’s 2019 Downtown Specific Plan, which calls for a denser, transit-focused downtown, anchored by a civic plaza directly in front of the BART station. The city’s Housing Plan instructs staff to work with BART on housing around the station and to pursue zoning tools and funding to support affordable units. For more context, see the Downtown Specific Plan from the City of Hayward and the Housing Plan from the City of Hayward.
What Developers Could Be Asked To Build
The outreach boards sketch a development envelope that could allow building heights up to about 11 stories on parts of the site, along with active uses at the ground floor to keep the area lively. BART is flagging a target that at least 20% of the homes on site be affordable to low- and very-low-income households, tying into a systemwide goal of delivering 35% affordable housing across BART’s portfolio. The materials also contemplate reducing car parking, coordinating bus zones, and pursuing outside funding for station upgrades. A set of draft objectives and a timeline for the formal request for proposals are laid out in documents from BART.
State Rules Will Shape What Actually Gets Built
Two state laws will put some firm guardrails around whatever ultimately rises here: AB 2923, which sets baseline zoning standards for BART-owned land, and SB 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act. Regional guidance from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s SB 79 mapping, together with county planning documents, will determine whether specific parcels qualify for SB 79’s streamlined standards and higher densities. For more details, check the SB 79 regional map from MTC and the AB 2923 planning memo from Alameda County.
How Hayward Residents Can Weigh In
Residents who want a say in how the station area evolves can attend the open houses at Hayward Station and complete the online survey through May 15. After taking public input, BART expects to lock in the final objectives for the RFP and then ask the BART Board to select a developer in the coming months. Updates on next steps are slated to appear on planning pages for both BART and the City of Hayward.
