VTA secures BART extension funding
2 February 2023The State of California has awarded US$375m (£304m) to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for its BART extension into Downtown San Jose and Santa Clara.
The funding is an important step for VTA to qualify for roughly US$4.6bn (£3.75bn) in a federal contribution, approximately 50% of the estimated project cost.
In May last year, Kiewit Shea Traylor joint venture (KSTJV) was awarded the design-build contract for the tunnel and trackwork. KSTJV plans to use an approximate 16.5m diameter TBM to bore an 8km (5-mile) tunnel under Downtown San Jose. It is the first rail project in the US to be constructed by a single bore, allowing both tracks and station platforms to be constructed within the tunnel.
In November, an independent peer review, led by the American Public Transportation Association, concluded that a single-bore tunnel was the best option for the project. It said it would save construction time, reduce the station footprint and property needs, increase the potential for transit-oriented development, and reduce disruption to communities.
The Phase II extension includes 9.6km of track and four stations to be added to the Phase I 16km alignment from the Warm Springs/South Fremont Station, through Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose.
The federal government has authorised VTA to advance design on the project and begin certain activities. Early pre-construction activities are planned to start this spring, with major construction beginning next year.
