By Lynda Myer
In order to pursuing federal funding for up to 50% of the cost of Phase II of the BART Silicon Valley extension project, an authority has been awarded to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).
The raise limit of funding in the case of require for the alignment that is going to extend the heavy rail service from Berryessa/North San Jose through Downtown San Jose into Santa Clara, is US$4.6bn (£3.75bn). Due to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approval VTA is allowed to apply for twice the amount of funding anticipated under the previous Expedited Project Delivery pilot program. Also the past eligible expenses for potential grant reimbursement back to March 2016, as well as for all remaining work on the project, for the estimated total project cost of up to US$9.3bn (£7.5bn), is confirmed by FTA’s action.
Considering that the design-build contract of the tunnel and trackwork, was granted to Kiewit Shea Traylor joint venture (KSTJV) in May, KSTJV intends to procure an around 16.5m (54ft) diameter TBM to bore an 8km (5-mile) tunnel beneath Downtown San Jose. AS the first rail project in the US to be constructed by a single bore, it allows both tracks and station platforms to be constructed within the tunnel.
The decision of building a single-bore tunnel as the best option for BART Silicon Valley extension project, was conclusion of an independent peer review, led by the American Public Transportation Association, in November.
It said: “It would save construction time, reduce the station footprint and property needs, increase the potential for transit-oriented development, and reduce disruption to communities.”
Following completion of a final cost estimate and funding plan, VTA plans to commence the federal funding application next summer, while for major transit projects as the last key funding piece it is seeking an additional US$750m (£612m) from the state’s transportation funding program.
The 9.6km (6 miles) of track and four stations, are the contents of Phase II extension, which should be added to the Phase I (16km) 10-mile alignment from the Warm Springs/South Fremont Station, through Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose.
