Lillian VestThe California Transportation Commission (CTC) has awarded two grants, totaling $100 million, to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII) project.
Supporting the project, CTC approved $25 million from the 2025 Local Partnership Competitive Program, which supports projects that address mobility and transportation challenges, and $75 million from the 2025 Solutions for Congested Corridors Program, an initiative that focuses on congestion relief and sustainable transportation solutions.
The BSVII project will extend BART service six miles into downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, supporting state and regional goals around congestion relief, equity and economic development.
State officials anticipate the overall project will cost $12.7 billion, which will be funded through a combination of local, state and federal sources, including a planned almost $5.1 billion contribution from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program, according to the project website. The project will feature an approximately 5-mile subway, three stations with underground platforms at 28th Street and Little Portugal, Downtown San José and the Diridon station, one ground-level station in Santa Clara, a train yard and a maintenance facility.
In response to funding challenges, VTA officials said the agency has adjusted elements to reduce costs and close an existing funding gap for parking lots and design.
Initial construction for BSVII has already begun at the Newhall Maintenance Yard on the border of San Jose and Santa Clara. Kiewit Shea Traylor is building the launch structure for the tunnel boring machine, however, due to the VTA’s budget, the board said the project team will pursue another contractor to bore the tunnel.
VTA officials said finding another contractor will delay groundbreaking on the tunnel by about 18 months and said they’re looking for ways to save time during construction. The agency anticipates maintaining the expansion’s estimated 2037 opening.
Image by NGUYEN NGOC TIEN from Pixabay
