From VTA.org:
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will provide program and construction updates about the BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project, including details about near- term activities.
Agenda
Attendees will receive a general project overview presentation that includes: program and construction updates, near-term project activities, and details regarding upcoming construction work in the Milpitas area and on and around the site of the future Milpitas Station. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to visit display stations and meet with project staff representing planning, environmental, engineering, real estate, construction and community outreach. Representatives from VTA’s Design Builder, Skanska Shimmick Herzog, a Joint Venture will also be available. VTA’s BART Silicon Valley construction update presentation will be provided twice on Tuesday, June 26 to accommodate members of the public and varying schedules.
In April 2012, VTA broke ground on the Berryessa Extension Project, the largest public works project in Santa Clara County’s and VTA’s history. Construction of the 10-mile, two-station project is planned for 2012-2016. Initial construction activities include relocating utilities and preparing the future station areas for construction. Other current and near-term work includes construction at major intersections that the BART system will cross and removal of freight tracks and controls along the project corridor where there is no longer freight service.
Once train service begins, the Berryessa Extension will serve 23,000 average daily passengers opening year, providing a transit alternative to the highly congested Interstate 680 and Interstate 880 corridors. It is estimated that a total of 18,000 direct and indirect jobs will be attributed to the project, with an average of 2500 during the five busiest years of construction. Once built, the extension will enhance regional connectivity, linking Santa Clara County to Oakland and San Francisco, and increase access into and out of the county that will be significant in supporting future job and population growth.
In March 2012, VTA received a $900 million grant commitment from the FTA for the BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project, along with the first $100 million allocation. The cost of the project is approximately $2.3 billion, which will be funded through $900 million in federal assistance, $251 million in state funding and $1.179 billion from Measure A sales tax.
BART Silicon Valley
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Project is a 16-mile extension of the existing BART system to San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara, which will be delivered through a phased approach. The first phase, the Berryessa Extension, is a 10-mile, two-station extension, beginning in Fremont south of the future BART Warm Springs Station and proceeding in the former Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way through Milpitas, the location of the first station, and then to the Berryessa area of north San Jose, at the second station. VTA continues project development activities for the second 6-mile phase of the project that includes a 5.1 mile-long subway tunnel through downtown San Jose, and ends at grade in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. Construction on the second phase of the project will commence as additional funding is secured.
For more information about BART Silicon Valley, please contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 934-2662, (TTY only) (408) 321-2330, or visit www.vta.org/bart
