The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has been awarded $100 million in state funding for BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII), a transformative regional infrastructure investment that will ring the Bay with electric rail and significantly enhance mobility across the Bay Area. This award is a significant contribution to filling VTA’s remaining funding gap for the project.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the awards at today’s meeting in Sacramento. The funding includes:
- $25 million from the 2025 Local Partnership Competitive Program (LPP), which supports infrastructure projects that address mobility and transportation challenges through strong local investment. VTA submitted this application directly.
- $75 million from the 2025 Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP), a competitive grant nominated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) with VTA as the implementing agency. This program focuses on projects that relieve congestion and promote sustainable, equitable transportation solutions.
“These grants are a critical milestone in delivering BART Silicon Valley Phase II,” said Carolyn Gonot, VTA General Manager/CEO. “This investment reflects our region’s long-standing commitment to sustainable transit and the collective determination to bring BART farther into the heart of Silicon Valley. We are also working to set the standard for efficiency and fiscal responsibility in the transit industry by ensuring every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and strategically.”
VTA extends its sincere thanks to the MTC for nominating BSVII for SCCP funding and for their continued partnership and support in advancing this transformative project.
The BSVII project will extend BART service six miles into downtown San Jose and Santa Clara, supporting state and regional goals around congestion relief, equity, and economic development. The estimated $12.7 billion project is being funded through a combination of local, state, and federal sources, including a planned nearly $5.1 billion contribution from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program.
Santa Clara County residents have strongly supported the project through multiple voter-approved sales tax measures. In response to evolving funding challenges, VTA has identified $400 million in cost savings and continues pursuing additional efficiencies to close a funding gap of $700 million to $1.2 billion.
By seeking and securing diversified funding sources, including these two highly competitive state grants, VTA is advancing a megaproject that not only transforms regional mobility but also demonstrates disciplined financial management and public accountability.