BART extension to Silicon Valley gets $5 billion federal boost

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(KRON) — In the South Bay, the long-held dream of connecting San Jose to BART took a big step forward on Friday. Transportation officials announced that the Federal Transit Administration would award a $5.1 billion grant toward a planned BART Silicon Valley extension.

The Valley Transportation Authority announced the grant at a news conference in Santa Clara with Supervisor Cindy Chavez and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan in attendance. The project is the largest transportation infrastructure project in the history of Santa Clara County. VTA received news of the grant on Thursday.

Supervisor Chavez called it “an historic commitment from the federal government.”

The extension project’s goal is to connect the Berryessa/North San Jose station to two new BART stations in downtown San Jose and a station in Santa Clara near the existing Caltrans station near the San Jose Mineta Airport.

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The entire project is expected to cost about $12.7 billion. The federal funding combined with existing funds covers most of the cost for the project. However, there is still a $700 million gap in funding that will need to be closed. VTA said the work to find that money will begin immediately.

“Extending BART to Silicon Valley isn’t just a regional priority it’s also an important investment in the nation’s economic and innovation future,” said Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “We were proud to join with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and so many others to advocate for this critical funding and we applaud the Federal Transit Administration for its wisdom in investing to strengthen in our nation’s competitiveness.”

“I extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to the FTA for responding so positively to our request for funding of this legacy project,” said State Senator Dave Cortese. “This five-mile transit project will ease traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve pedestrian public safety and connect an estimated 54,600 South Bay passengers on a daily basis to the rest of the Bay Area by 2040.” 

If all goes to plan, the BART Silicon Valley extension would be complete by 2040.

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Alex Baker and Charles Clifford

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