Funding issues are compounding the troubles involved in expanding the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) to include San Jose and other areas in Silicon Valley. A recent allocation of funds is keeping the plan moving.
"Santa Clara County voters approved a 30-year half-cent sales tax six years ago that at the time was touted as enough money to build BART, improve Caltrain and expand light-rail and bus service."
"But the dot-com bust sent projected revenue plunging and to do everything promised will cost about $3 billion more than VTA anticipates it will receive in the next three decades."
"The sales tax, which kicked in earlier this year, would cover about half the cost of building BART. The VTA is banking on getting state and federal aid to make up the difference."
"But building BART is just part of the financial battle. The VTA doesn't have the cash to operate additional transit service approved in the tax plan; roughly $75 million a year is needed. And the agency won't get federal aid until it does."
Read the full story: BART chugs along, for now
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