San Jose BART Extension Facing More Delays

John Woolfolk reports on the status of the Bay Area Rapid Transit extension project from Fremont to San Jose and the additional delays on the horizon. Construction to Berryessa started in April 2012, and service was originally scheduled to begin earlier this year in June. After testing delays, the completion date moved to September 2019. Recent communications equipment problems may now keep the extension from starting up service until December 2019. 

While BART will oversee operation of the trains, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is responsible for construction. This latest delay will involve replacement of the equipment and cost $1.25 million, which VTA anticipates the contractor will cover.

Still, residents grappling with worsening traffic are frustrated by the project’s ongoing delays. Voters passed a tax measure in 2000 to build the extension and approved a second tax in 2008 to fund operating costs. They also approved a third tax in 2016 for a second extension from Berryessa to Santa Clara.

The rest of the project, including tracks and stations, from Fremont to Berryessa is completed. The second-phase extension to Santa Clara is not affected by the Berryessa extension delays and remains on schedule for completion in 2026.