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BART Silicon Valley Achieves Environmental Milestone
VTA One Step Closer to Federal Funding Commitment
| Release Number: | NR 10 06 06 |
| Release Date: | Jun 24, 2010 |
San Jose, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) received notification today that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the first 10-mile phase of BART Silicon Valley. This milestone signifies that VTA satisfied the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), thereby issuing environmental impact approval for the $2.1 billion Berryessa Extension.
The ROD is issued after extensive environmental analysis which is documented in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS for the Berryessa Extension of BART Silicon Valley assesses alternatives considered, includes the public opportunity to comment along with public comments and responses, and provides the basis for the decision and measures required to mitigate potentially adverse effects.
Receipt of the ROD is required for projects seeking federal funding. “This is a critical milestone for BART Silicon Valley,” said VTA Board Chair and San Jose City Council Member Sam Liccardo. “It positions us for the next milestones which are to advance in the FTA New Starts Program, get a commitment of federal funding and begin construction in 2012.”
As the project sponsor, VTA is applying for $900 million in FTA New Starts funding. The FTA New Starts Program is the federal government’s primary discretionary financial resource for supporting locally planned, constructed and operated major transit projects.
The ROD is critical for VTA to achieve the next several anticipated near-term milestones for the BART Silicon Valley Project:
In December, VTA anticipates the FTA to move the project into the third and final phase of project development in the New Starts Program.
In February 2011, the FTA and VTA will then move forward on an agreement for a federal funding allocation culminating with a “Full Funding Grant Agreement” (FFGA) for $900 million in 2012.
An FFGA is a multi-year contractual agreement between the FTA and the project sponsor that formally defines the project scope, cost and schedule, and establishes the level and terms of federal financial assistance.
VTA plans to begin construction immediately following the FFGA. In May, the VTA Board of Directors awarded authority for VTA to pursue Design Build as the delivery method for the project. This delivery method is estimated to result in an $85 million savings and shorten construction by six months. Construction is planned for 2012-2016, system testing 2017 and passenger service to begin in 2018.
Once constructed, the extension will be operated by BART, as part of its regional system. The 10-mile BART Berryessa Extension includes two stations, one in Milpitas and one in the Berryessa area of North San Jose, making a total of 47 stations in the 119-mile regional system.
The Berryessa Extension will serve a projected 46,000 average weekday riders by 2030. This vital link to Santa Clara County will provide a transit solution to highly congested and constrained I-880 and I-680 corridors. The new 10-mile extension will reduce regional traffic congestion and improve local connectivity through new high-frequency express/feeder bus services timed to meet BART trains to connect downtown San Jose, major employment hubs, schools and universities, and housing communities throughout the valley.
Quotes:
“As a consistent supporter of BART to Silicon Valley, I know that the federal environmental approval is particularly important for our current efforts to connect the San Francisco Bay Area’s three largest cities and employment centers that are preparing to see tremendous growth over the next 30 years. A 21st century, energy efficient approach to transportation in Silicon Valley is necessary for maintaining our leadership in the high-tech job market.” – Congressman Mike Honda (District 15)
“This is a good step in the long, ongoing journey to bring BART to the South Bay.” – Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (District 16)
“The Federal Transit Administration’s decision is an important milestone in our drive to connect BART with the Capital of Silicon Valley. We look forward to the day when commuters can use a comprehensive transit network that connects the entire Bay Area.” – City of San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed
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About BART 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.
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.
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