$375 million state awards for BART VTA expansion to San Jose, Santa Clara

The state has awarded $375 million to a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority project that will extend the BART an additional 6 miles and four stations to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara.

According to the VTA, this award increases government support for the project to $1.125 billion.

The award is an important step as it will help the VTA in its bid to qualify for about $4.6 billion in federal funds, about half of the project’s total cost, according to the transit agency.

“This award brings the $375 million VTA closer to securing a historic federal investment in Silicon Valley mobility,” said VTA General Manager and CEO Carolyn Gonot.

The project is expected to boost the local economy by creating around 75,000 jobs directly and indirectly, according to the VTA.

“I look forward to working with our state and federal partners to secure the remaining resources needed to deliver on the enormous promise of this unique infrastructure investment,” said San Jose Mayor and VTA board member Matt Mahan.

Officials said early preparatory work is scheduled to begin this spring, with major construction to begin next year.

According to the VTA, this project has been identified as the number one priority of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Plan Bay Area 2040 long-term plan. The MTC is the regional transit coordination agency for the Bay Area.