The future of transit in the South Bay inched forward this week, as the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) gave a sneak peek into the ongoing construction of the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project. Local media were invited to the West Portal construction site on June 23rd, where they got an exclusive look at the preparations for the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that is set to carve out a path for BART through the heart of San José, according to a VTA blog post.
Tom Maguire, VTA’s Chief Megaprojects Delivery Officer, heralded the project as "the largest transportation project in the history of Santa Clara County" and emphasized the economic and mobility benefits it is anticipated to generate, as KTVU reported. Sarah Wilson, Director of Construction at VTA, outlined next steps, which include excavating and stabilizing the ground for the TBM launch shaft and installing underground support walls, stressing the project's strides in transforming regional mobility, reducing congestion, and extending BART service to locals.
Construction of the project, which involves six miles of track from Berryessa Station to beyond Downtown San José, has faced its share of challenges, including significant delays and budget overruns, with expenses spilling over possibly up to a billion dollars. Yet, VTA officials claim they've managed to offset costs by $400 million and expect further savings from changes in design and contracting methods, as KTVU reported.
