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Tuesday January 7, 1997

BART won't disturb Colma Jewish graves

LESLEY PEARL
Bulletin Staff

"Next stop, Home of Peace."

During the late 1800s, the words were familiar to all Southern Pacific Railroad conductors. The train "used to be the only way to get to the cemeteries in Colma," said Gary Cohn, executive director of San Francisco Congregations Emanu- El's Home of Peace and Sherith Israel's Hills of Eternity in Colma.

The route is being revived.

BART's extension to San Francisco International Airport, scheduled to be completed by the year 2000, will run along the Southern Pacific Railroad path -- this time underground.

The 8.2 mile track from Colma to the airport will uproot nearly 800 people, 14 businesses and numerous garter snakes and red-legged frogs. But an agreement to build a tunnel and underground subway station through Hills of Eternity, Eternal Home, Salem Memorial Park and Home of Peace ensures the graves of more than 50,000 Jews will not be altered.

"I've been assured everything will be left intact," said Gene Kaufman, director of San Francisco Sinai Memorial Chapel's Eternal Home Cemetery.

Cohn, also Emanu-El's executive director, added: "Over the long run, the construction has very little impact on us."

Last month BART detailed its plan and relocation efforts for tenants, businesses and animals. They insist no graves will be disturbed.

A coalition of Colma's 16 cemeteries has met with BART officials since 1992 to discuss concerns -- among them, the positioning of tracks and the short- and long-term impacts of construction.

Ultimately BART agreed to place tracks underground below the Colma cemeteries. BART has accounted for a more expensive cut-and-cover station, rather than above-ground tracks, in its $1.2 billion extension budget.

During construction, BART has also agreed to designate quiet times for funerals. Engineers have determined safe sound levels and ways to protect wells, graves and mausoleums from vibrations. BART will also replace any landscaping it uproots.

Neither Cohn nor Kaufman expressed concern about maintaining the integrity of the graves.

"All of our burial areas are significantly away from the tracks and the construction area -- 250 yards plus. That's double the length of a football field," Cohn said.

"There's a lot of skepticism about government agencies, but I believe BART has our best interest in mind," Cohn added.

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