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BART Extension Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy
| Release Number: | nr09 10 09 |
| Release Date: | Oct 27, 2009 |
San Jose, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) BART Silicon Valley Project exemplifies findings from the recently released “Economic Impact of Public Transportation Investment” report which demonstrates how increased investment in public transportation provides green jobs, wages and business income in industries that have been particularly hit hard by the economic downturn.
Economic analysis of the BART Silicon Valley project by Wilber Smith and Associates, estimated an overall return on investment of four to six dollars for every dollar spent on the $6 billion project. By 2030, the 16-mile extension is estimated to generate an additional $11.42 billion in gross regional product and $3.27 billion in personal income, with 66% of those dollars staying in Santa Clara County and the remainder benefitting the Bay Area region. The national average of short and long-term economic benefits of public transit investments outlined in the APTA report is for every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 is generated in economic returns.
The report released October 23, 2009, by The American Public Transportation Association (APTA, also shows that for every $1 billion invested in public transportation capital and operations, an average of 36,000 jobs are supported. These 36,000 jobs result in roughly $3.6 billion of business sales and generate nearly $500 million in federal, state and local tax revenues. “BART Silicon Valley will create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs to build and then operate the system. Easier access in and out of the county will greatly expand the county’s labor force,” states Carolyn Gonot, Chief Program Officer, BART Silicon Valley.
BART Silicon Valley also has long-term economic benefits from taking cars off the road. Estimates show a savings of $8.65 billion after 15 years of operations, resulting from reduced congestion which reduces travel times, vehicle operating costs and accidents, in addition to emissions. “Public transportation investments offer both short- and long-term benefits to our economy,” notes Glen Weisbrod of Economic Development Research Group, the author of the APTA research effort. “This investment not only brings an immediate economic impact on job creation and business sales, but it also provides the long-term benefit of improving our nation’s transportation system, which in turn improves the efficiency of our economy.”
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.
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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; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; countywide transportation planning and provides these services throughout the county including the cities 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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