President Biden will allocate an additional $200 million for the Silicon Valley BART Extension Phase II in his upcoming proposed budget. The project will extend the BART Silicon Valley alignment from the North San Jose Berryessa station through downtown San Jose to Santa Clara, adding four more stations and 6 more miles of track, including an innovative single bore tunnel under downtown San Jose.
This is the third allocation under the federal Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program. The FTA announced a commitment of $125 million in August 2019 and then another $100 million was committed in January 2021.
“The President’s commitment so far to allocate $425 million is great news in the overall commitment to fund the federal share of the project,” said VTA Board Chair Chappie Jones.
This latest allocation shows the federal government’s confidence in the project and in VTA’s ability to complete the largest transportation infrastructure project in Santa Clara County history.
“Contrary to the narrative of some critics about the alleged lack of federal support for the BART to Silicon Valley project, today’s commitment of the U.S. Department of Transportation of $200 million in Expedited Project Delivery funding—one of only two projects nationally to receive EPD funding—demonstrates the critical importance and efficacy of this project in meeting our region’s transportation and climate goals. I am grateful for Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s continued commitment to this project, and to our nation’s critical need for transit investment,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, also a member of the VTA Board of Directors.
VTA will continue working with the federal and state governments to fill out the entire funding package for the project.
Earlier this year, the Santa Clara City Council got a look at what the BART station in Santa Clara would look like. The reviews were mixed with some council members concerned about the configuration of the elevated platform that would require up and down travel by BART users.
A representative for BART Silicon Valley says the design is fixed and it should not be a problem. Construction on the extension to Santa Clara from San Jose’s Diridon Station is scheduled to begin later this year.
The entire system is expected to be up and running by 2030.