Two major projects completing the ring of rail around San Francisco Bay advanced in recent weeks. The $12.75B project to bring BART from Berryessa to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara broke ground. The project is now estimated to start rail service in 2036. The groundbreaking took place before VTA received a commitment from the […]
On Friday, VTA announced that the federal government would fund $5.1Billion toward the BART Silicon Valley project, about 41% of the cost of the project, currently estimated at $12.7 billion. This leaves a gap of $1.2Billion from the amount that VTA had been requesting, and a gap of $700million to complete the project, following the
A bill in the legislature this year, AB2503 (Lee), proposes to exempt rail electrification projects from the sort of delay that impacted Caltrain electrification. Back in 2015, the Town of Atherton sued the Caltrain electrification project – which is about to provide a major benefit to the environment by eliminating polluting emissions from diesel trains
The San Francisco Central Subway just opened after over a decade in construction and about $1.6 billion. The BART Silicon Valley project may get better station access but the cost is now over $9 billion. What can be done to help transit megaprojects be planned better, delivered faster and more cost-effectively? Join Friends of Caltrain,
September 12: Panel on MTC Megaproject Advancement Policy On Monday September 12, SPUR is hosted a panel with Kenneth Folan of Metropolitan Transportation Commission, discussing the Regional Megaproject Advancement Policy that is under development to identify and monitor cost and delivery risks for megaprojects. The panel also includes Paul Lewis of think tank Eno Transportation
In May, following requests from the BART board and San Jose City Council the VTA board agreed to move forward with two parallel review processes to investigate opportunities to improve the project, looking the potential for: Entrances on both sides of the street – important for passenger access and safetyBetter, easier passenger access to station
What travel needs would be met by a second transbay rail crossing between San Francisco and the East Bay? How might the project benefit or impact equity priority communities? What opportunities for housing and access to jobs? On January 26, transit groups including Friends of Caltrain, San Francisco Transit Riders, Transbay Coalition, Streets for People,
On December 2, the BART board supported a review of the BART Silicon Valley project to assess the current design against the twin-bore alternative studied in the EIR that may be able to deliver better rider experience and safety at lower cost. Directors Saltzman and Li expressed concerns about the ballooning cost estimates for the
This afternoon, San Jose City Council will discuss the project bringing BART to San Jose. Mayor Sam Liccardo authored a memo joined by colleagues Jones, Peralez and Davis urging VTA to take steps to improve the projects from the perspective of urban design and transit connections. The memo elevates a number of needs that have
