Project Development - Engineering

The engineering and design of the BART Extension is developed in phases of project development in conjunction with the environmental process. Engineering phases include Conceptual Engineering (10% design), Preliminary Engineering (35% design), 65% design, and Final Engineering (100% design). These design phases represent a progression of engineering throughout project development.

Conceptual Engineering and Preliminary Engineering (PE) phases occur during the development of draft and final environmental documents, and together are generally referred to as the PE phase. The 65% design phase allows for a further refinement to project definition and the design of the facilities and systems. Engineering details for the BART Extension are identified by refining station, tunnel and other facilities’ design. As engineering advances towards a final design, more accurate project costs and schedules are also developed.

A crucial part of the PE and 65% design phases is Value Engineering, by which proposals to increase the efficiency of the design or reduce capital and operating costs are evaluated for potential implementation. There are five Engineering groups responsible for Value Engineering opportunities: line, tunnel, facilities, systems, and design integration. As of March 2006, more than 40 value-engineering proposals were evaluated and over $260 million in value engineering improvements have been identified.

In December 2006, the PE phase was completed. The 65% Engineering phase will be completed in December 2008. Final design will advance the project development to 100% complete. Decisions will be made on design refinements, engineering issues, landscaping, as well as the type of building materials. Final design would begin in 2009 and continue through 2010.

A comprehensive community outreach program and construction management plan will be developed in coordination with the cities and stakeholders during the final design phase. Construction of the BART Extension would take approximately eight years to complete  Revenue Service is planned for 2018. VTA will continue to evaluate value-engineering proposals in an effort to reduce project costs, and continue agency and stakeholder coordination on design development.