Bay Area Rapid Transit Government News

Federal funding will be flowing into Silicon Valley to help expand BART service to Santa Clara, but the revenue is just short of VTA’s request, leaving officials looking for ways to plug the shortfall.

Construction workers broke ground on BART’s expansion in Santa Clara this week, and officials are banking on federal funding to help finish the job.

BART’s expansion through Silicon Valley is taking shape as pre-construction work gets underway in Santa Clara.

Regional planning groups have to submit an application by Dec. 31 detailing how they plan to use the money to improve ridership and how they will divvy up funds between the transit operators they oversee. Some money can be used for construction projects.

Cost estimates to expand BART services in the region soar to $12.2 billion and span through the next decade.

Valley Transportation Authority projects the cost of the final phase of extending BART into downtown San Jose and Santa Clara will be more than 30% higher, and take three years longer, to 2036, to complete.

When the project is completed in 2029, VTA riders will be able to get on light rail at the Eastridge Transit Center and connect with BART at Milpitas Station.