San Jose, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) General Manager Michael Burns announced today that VTA is asking the FTA to temporarily withdraw the BART to Silicon Valley Project from preliminary engineering in the federal New Starts process.

In September, VTA submitted a report on the BART to Silicon Valley project to the FTA for the Annual New Starts Update, which will be released in February 2006.  While the most recent information on the project shows higher ridership than earlier anticipated, this has driven up the project’s costs.   VTA is anticipating that it’s New Starts submittal is not likely to be accepted by FTA in its current form, and is therefore, electing to withdraw the project from the federal process to allow more time to address those issues.  VTA has succeeded in improving the cost effectiveness rating by nearly 25 percent, but believes it could further improve this measurement.  This would allow the project to be even more competitive nationally.

"As the lead proponent for this project on Capitol Hill, I support VTA's decision to withdraw the project because it allows the agency additional time to bring the project into conformity with FTA requirements for New Starts projects," Congressman Mike Honda (D-San José) said. "We all appreciate the highly competitive nature of the New Starts Program, and VTA's action today signals our region's commitment to putting

forward a project that meets all federal requirements, competes well against other projects, and merits full and unreserved federal partnership."

VTA staff will continue to move forward with preliminary engineering, environmental and planning work using local funding and will work closely with the FTA to resolve issues related to the project’s cost, ridership estimates and financial plan.

Burns stated, “The majority of New Starts funding is awarded for Final Design and Construction.   By using local funding for the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental work we can focus our efforts on securing federal funds during the Final Design phase.   This action will allow us to improve the project’s ability to compete for funding in the next phase.”

“The BART to Silicon Valley project remains a critical link in the Bay Area’s transportation infrastructure,” said VTA Board Chair Joe Pirzynski.   “Left unaddressed, population and job growth will cause traffic congestion that could have significant economic and quality-of-life impacts for the region.”

The BART project is a major long-term effort.   The current financial plan for the project anticipates an initial infusion of New Starts funding beginning in 2008.   In the interim, VTA will work cooperatively with the FTA to move the project forward in the federal funding process.

About BART to Silicon Valley

VTA is progressing the design of a 16.3 mile extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system from just south of the future BART Warm Springs Station in Fremont to the cities of Milipitas, San Jose and Santa Clara.   The alignment would include seven stations, plus one future station, and a maintenance and vehicle storage yard in San Jose/Santa Clara.   BART’s average weekday boardings are currently 345,000.  The new extension is expected to add 111,500 average weekday boardings by 2030.

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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.