BART To San Jose To Take $772 Million Step

One of the costliest transit projects in the Bay Area is a $772 million contract, closer to construction come Dec. 8. The long-awaited BART extension from Fremont to the region's largest city may be contingent on FTA funding expected in February.

1 minute read

November 28, 2011, 6:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"The (Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority) vote on a construction bid for the (BART Silicon Valley) project will come at its Dec. 8 board meeting and is certain to be approved. That sets the stage for the much-anticipated decision by the Federal Transit Administration in February to determine how much if any federal aid will be earmarked for the $2.3 billion, 10-mile line from Warm Springs to the Berryessa area of San Jose.

Now all that stands in the way of BART commuters being able to travel south of Fremont is federal funding -- money the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) thinks it will get but which is beholden to the nation's fiscal crisis and political deadlock in Washington, D.C."

"When we get the federal funding agreement in February, that's it. It will happen", asserted a confident San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed.

VTA is seeking $900 million in federal New Starts funding for the initial, 10-mile, two-station extension to Berrryessa. The full project goes another six miles to Santa Clara (Caltrain Station), including the subway through downtown San Jose that would include a stop at the Caltrain/Amtrak Station where it would meet with the planned high speed rail train from Los Angeles.

Thanks to Matthew WILLIAMS

Saturday, November 26, 2011 in San Jose Mercury News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today