News Releases
Archived
Favorable Federal Rating for BART Silicon Valley
| Release Number: | NR 10 02 01 |
| Release Date: | Feb 03, 2010 |
The first phase of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) BART Extension to Silicon Valley has been given an overall project rating of “medium” in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Annual Report for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011, which was released today.
VTA is requesting $900 million in federal New Starts funding, and a medium rating positively positions the project to qualify and compete for the funding. The first phase of the project is a 10-mile, two station extension, from Fremont to the Berryessa area in north San Jose. The project is in the preliminary engineering phase, and it is scheduled to enter into final engineering next year, at which time it could be included in next year’s New Starts Annual Report, FFY 2012, eligible for a funding recommendation.
“The BART Silicon Valley Project would not have been able to reach this milestone without the continued leadership and support of our congressional delegation,” said Michael T. Burns, VTA’s General Manager. “Congressman Mike Honda, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and Congressman Jerry McNerney deserve special recognition for championing this project on Silicon Valley’s behalf at the federal level.”
Projects are evaluated on several criteria that contribute to the overall rating including: Economic Development, Mobility Improvements, Cost Effectiveness, Transit-Supportive Land Use, Environmental Benefits, Operating Efficiencies, Local Financial Commitment, New Starts Share of Total Project Costs, and Capital and Financial Operating Plans. "This adds yet another significant milestone to the rear view of BART's journey to Silicon Valley. This rating shows that this project will compete well against other transit nationally, and it keeps BART on track to begin carrying Santa Clara County riders by 2018," commented Sam Liccardo, VTA Board Chair, and City of San Jose Council Member.
VTA applied for entry into New Starts preliminary engineering in September 2009, the initial step to qualify for federal New Starts funding. FTA notified Congress of its intent to approve the project into preliminary engineering in November 2009 and took formal approval action in December 2009. Federal environmental clearance, through the issuance of a Federal Environmental Impact Statement is expected early spring.
In November 2000, Santa Clara County voters approved a 30-year one-half cent sales tax to raise funds for an extension of BART from Fremont to San Jose. In November 2008, Santa Clara voters approved an additional one-eighth cent sales tax for operation of the extension, which helped position the project in the federal funding process. Collection of this tax is dependent on execution of a Full Funding Grant Agreement from the FTA.
BART to Silicon Valley
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to Silicon Valley Project is an extension of the existing BART system to San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara. This project plans to extend the current BART system 16 miles beginning at the future BART Warm Springs Station in Fremont and proceed on the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way through Milpitas to south of Mabury Road in San Jose. The extension would then descend into a 5.1 mile-long subway tunnel, continue through downtown San Jose, and end at grade in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. A maintenance and vehicle storage yard would be at the terminus of the project in Santa Clara.
Go To Top
About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region. VTA is responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations and also serves as the county’s congestion management agency. As such, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management issues, specific highway improvement projects, pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects, and provides these services throughout the county, including the municipalities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.
###
Rider's Links 
