A report attained by the Mercury News uncovers information regarding the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project that will come as a surprise to anyone paying attention to recent federal support for the project.
The opening of BART's San Jose extension could be delayed until 2034—a four-year increase of the current timeline, according to a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) report acquired by the Mercury News through a Public Records Act request.
Reporting the scoop for the Mercury News, Maggie Angst shares the revelations contained in the FTA's report. In addition to the increasing timeline, the report also shows a budget exceeding original estimates.
"[F]ederal officials indicated late last year that the project could rise to $9.1 billion — $4.4 billion over the VTA’s initial cost estimate and $2.2 billion over the agency’s most recent projection," reports Angst.
According to Angst, the review was part of the Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program, a new federal program designed to streamline federal funding to transit projects. In an October press release announcing the EPD funding, the VTA was still targeting 2030 for project completion and a $6.9 billion price tag.
The BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project, as the project is officially known, includes four stations, a maintenance facility, and five miles of subway tunnel, and will extend BART service from the newly opened Berryessa Station in northeast San Jose through downtown San Jose into the city of Santa Clara. The project is the largest infrastructure project Santa Clara County history and is under the authority of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
The BART Silicon Valley Phase II project has attracted heated criticism in the past for exorbitant costs connected to questionable design, engineering, and planning decisions, including an episode in March 2021 that made the Planetizen newswire.
FULL STORY: Exclusive: Feds say BART’s San Jose extension likely delayed till 2034
Social Media Critics Roast Plans for Downtown San Jose BART Station
Critics panned new renderings for the 28th Street/Little Portugal station on the planned BART extension into San Jose.
BART’s Phase II Extension Into San Jose Ready to Go
A long-awaited extension of the Bay Area’s regional rail transit system is finally coming into view, with an expected completion date of 2030.
Santa Clara County to Vote on Tax for Silicon Valley BART Extension
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority unanimously approved the 30-year, half-cent transportation sales tax for the countywide ballot in November. $1.5 billion in tax revenues would go to Phase II of a BART extension in the Silicon Valley.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
San Francisco Slow Streets Bucks Citywide Trend, Reducing Injuries by 61 Percent
Low-cost interventions aimed at slowing traffic are making a major impact on road safety.
How Single-Family Conversions Benefit Both Homeowners and Cities
Converting single-family homes to triplexes can ease the housing crisis and offer affordable, flexible options for more households. Why is it largely illegal?
Report: Transportation Equity Requires More Than Electrification
Lower-income households often lack the resources to buy electric cars, signaling a need for a more holistic approach to improving mobility and lowering transportation costs.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research