LIVERMORE — The public hearing dates have been set for a soon-to-be-released environmental impact report on the proposed BART-to-Livermore extension.

Three public workshops also will be held to gather community input.

The draft EIR, which will examine a number of possible rail routes through Livermore, will be unveiled at 1 p.m. Nov. 6 at a meeting of the Tri-Valley Rail Policy Group at the Livermore library, 1188 S. Livermore Ave.

The first of two formal hearings will be at 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at the City Council chamber, 3575 Pacific Ave. The second hearing will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Ave.

A series of city-sponsored workshops, which will be led by a team of consultants, will be held Nov. 12, Dec. 10 and Jan. 21.

All will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Shrine Event Center, 170 Lindbergh Ave., Livermore.

The purpose is to give community members the chance to weigh in on traffic and parking planning, aesthetics and other issues.

Some of the issues to be discussed at the meetings include how big a future BART parking lot should be, what the inside of the station should look like and what kinds of amenities should be included.

The EIR considers a number of BART alignment alternatives, according to the city's Web site.

They include an alignment in the Interstate 580 median, an alignment along the Union Pacific Railroad right of way and various combinations

The extension could have either one or two BART stations, with potential station sites located at I-580/Isabel, Isabel/Stanley, the Downtown Transit Center, Vasco/Brisa ACE Station, and I-580/Greenville.

The BART board is expected to select a preferred alignment in March.

After the route is chosen, BART would then begin right-of-way preservation and a project-specific EIR.

Some $110 million in Bay Area bridge-toll money has been set aside for the project.

The Transportation Improvement Authority has also earmarked more than $8 million from a 2000 sales tax measure.

Jeanine Benca covers Livermore. Reach her at 925-847-2125.