By lyndamyer
In order to consult about the evolving design of the VTA’s BART Silicon Valley’s expansion project into San Jose and Santa Clara, which is a 9.65 km (6 mile) project includes 8.05 km (5-mile) tunnel and 4-stations and three of them are located underground, a meeting was held between a joint committee of VTA and BART Board members on 26/08/2022. Click here for announcement.
Kiewit Shea Traylor (KST), that is the tunnel and trackwork contractor, is exploring and analyzing dozens of changes that could result in more efficient delivery and ultimately boost the project, while the cost and construction timeline, as well as safety, operations and maintenance, and passenger experience, will be considered in these ideas.
Side by Side Tracks in One Tunnel
Located in 28th Street/Little Portugal, Downtown San Jose, and Diridon Station, providing a center boarding platform within the single bore tunnel (meaning, a platform between both directions of tracks) for all three underground stations is one of the main bided ideas.
This design idea would allow for:
- side by side tracks for the entire 6-mile extension
- a shallower descent to the platform from the street level
- potential access to the boarding platforms from both sides of Santa Clara Street, in Downtown San Jose
Due to the progress of design before construction, benefiting a delivery approach to the project that allows for more engagement and ongoing collaboration with key stakeholders and the community is in the agenda of VTA and its contractor. In order to identifying potential station refinements, VTA is working with a task force of public and private transportation professionals over this design innovation period. The advantages of these efforts could be increasing access to stations, promoting Transit-Oriented Development, and spurring economic growth.
Considering that the aim is engaging an independent review of the project’s tunneling method, VTA is working with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), while inquiries about the cutting-edge tunneling methodology, never before used on a transit project in the U.S., spurred the review. In 2018 a previous independent review of the tunnel design caused the single bore approach and current concept. The new review is due to involve feedback from the ongoing design innovation work and build on work done to date, including the 2018 peer review.
The 16 September 2022 is determined date for releasing more in-depth information on the innovations and station refinements at the VTA Board Workshop.
Please click here for tunnelingworld archive and also for further information visit this website.
