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| Phase I | Phase II |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
- What is the VTA BART Silicon Valley Extension Project?
- What are the benefits of BART Silicon Valley?
- What is VTA?
- Why is VTA building a BART Extension?
- What is the projected ridership?
- What is the process moving forward for Phase II of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley?
- What are the project costs?
- How will the community be engaged in the environmental process?
- What level of engineering design has been completed?
- What funding is anticipated for the project? If the project needs federal funding when will VTA submit an application?
- How is VTA engaging with the Cities?
- How can I learn more about the project?
What is the BART Silicon Valley Extension Project?
VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension is a planned 16-mile, six-station extension of the existing San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) system into Silicon Valley. VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension Project also includes other related projects and activities required to prepare the rail corridor for BART, such as relocation of existing UPRR tracks and utilities, drainage improvements, and grade separation projects within the alignment that are funded through other sources. VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension is being managed by VTA in cooperation with BART. The extension is being implemented with a phased construction approach. Phase I, the Berryessa Extension Project, is a 10-mile two –station project currently under construction and anticipated to open for revenue service in 2018.UPRR), extending south into Santa Clara County, with stations in Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara. The 16-mile alignment will travel at-grade, above-grade, and below-grade (in trenched segments and in a subway through downtown San Jose). The project includes six stations, a new BART maintenance and storage facility in the city of Santa Clara, and the purchase of rail cars needed to operate the extension once it is built.
What are the benefits of BART Silicon Valley?
During the five most active years of construction, BART Silicon Valley is anticipated to support approximately 2500 jobs annually. Over 18,000 direct and indirect jobs are attributed to completing the project.
In addition to creating jobs, the project will help the local economy, enhance regional connectivity, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve access to employment, education, medical, and retail centers. Opening day ridership for the Berryessa Extension is estimated at 23,000 and that number is projected to double after 15 years.
What is VTA?
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; highway improvements; transit capital improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning for Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County).
Why is VTA building a BART Extension?
When the BART District was originally formed in the 1960s, Santa Clara County opted out. Recent studies showed that an extension of the BART system was the best transit solution on the east side of the bay to provide an alternative to the congested I-880 and I-680 commute corridors. As the Congestion Management Agency for Santa Clara County, VTA is responsible for transit planning, construction and operations in Santa Clara County, thus VTA is responsible for designing and constructing the BART Silicon Valley Project. VTA will own all of the property, facilities and equipment related to the project. When the project is completed, BART will operate and maintain the system under an agreement executed with VTA.
What is the projected ridership?
The projected 2035 daily ridership for the Phase II extension is approximately 55,000. This projection is based on 2012 travel demand model that includes Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) 2009 land-use data. Ridership estimates will continue to evolve as the travel demand model is updated with new land-use data.
What is the process moving forward for Phase II of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley?
VTA is currently evaluating the Project Definition for Phase II of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley. Further analysis of project alternatives and options will take place during development of a supplemental Federal/State environmental document anticipated to begin in January 2015. The State document is under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process and the Federal document is under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For purposes related to the environmental process, the VTA Board of Directors will define a project to include in a final environmental document after public meetings and circulation of a draft environmental document. A Recommended Project will be adopted when the state environmental document is certified by VTA’s Board of Directors and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issues a Record of Decision on the federal document. Once a Recommended Project is selected, VTA intends to submit a New Starts Project Development application to FTA for entry into the New Starts funding program. Check out the Phase II Process Fact Sheet.
What are the project costs?
Phase II of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension is anticipated to cost $4.7 billion (Year of Expenditure dollars)
How will the community be engaged in the environmental process?
There will be several opportunities for public engagement in the environmental process. Scoping meetings will take place in early 2015 to discuss project options and environmental impacts that will be analyzed during the environmental impact evaluation. Once analysis is conducted, a draft document will be circulated for review and additional public meetings will be held. Upon completion of the circulation period, a final document will be completed with a Recommended Project. The final document will be publicly circulated and is intended to be certified by VTA’s Board of Directors and receive a Record of Decision by FTA.
What level of engineering design has been completed?
The project’s overall level of design completion is at 65 percent. Specifically, design elements related to the tunnel are at 95 percent. Design elements related to the stations are at 65 percent. Design elements related to station campuses are at 10 percent. Station campuses include above-ground facilities, such as parking garages.
What funding is anticipated for the project? If the project needs federal funding when will VTA submit an application?
It is anticipated that approximately $1 billion of Santa Clara County’s 2000 Measure A will be available for Phase II of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension. Federal funding will also be required, and additional funding will be necessary from sources yet to be specified. Once VTA’s Board of Directors selects a financially viable project in early 2016, VTA intends to submit a New Starts Project Development application to FTA for entry into the New Starts funding program.
How is VTA engaging with the Cities?
VTA has had a long standing partnership with the cities. This includes coordination with city staff within the departments of Planning, Engineering and Public Works. This relationship and partnership will continue throughout the environmental process and engineering and construction.
How can I learn more about the project?
VTA intends to engage the community throughout the environmental and New Starts funding process. There will be several opportunities to attend public meetings on various aspects of the project beginning in early 2015. Additionally, you can always contact VTA’s Community Outreach team with questions about the project. VTA strives to provide timely, pertinent project information and respond to project inquiries or concerns via the project hotline at (408) 934-2662 or email vtabart@vta.org.
| Hotline: (408) 934-2662 | Email: vtabart@vta.org | Connect with us: |
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