Why is VTA building a BART Extension?

When the BART District was formed in the 1960s, Santa Clara County opted out. As population and job growth rose in Santa Clara County, congestion along the I-880 and I-680 corridors grew as well. Recent studies showed that a BART extension was the best transit solution on the east side of the Bay to provide an alternative to the congested I-880 and I-680 corridors. As the county's Congestion Management Agency, VTA is responsible for designing and constructing the BART Silicon Valley Extension Project. VTA will own all the property, facilities, and equipment related to the project. When the project is complete, BART will operate and maintain the system under an agreement executed with VTA.