San Jose BART Extension: San Jose’s BART extension, one of the nation’s costliest transportation projects, is set to receive oversight after a recent revelation of escalating costs and a significant delay in the project’s timeline. The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors announced the formation of an oversight committee to address ongoing issues, provide recommendations, and scrutinize the project’s financial aspects.
Chairperson Pat Burt, who has the authority to establish the committee, proposed members including himself, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Councilmembers Dev Davis and Omar Torres, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, and City of Santa Clara Councilmember Sudhanshu “Suds” Jain. The transit agency’s auditor general will also be part of this group.
On October 4, VTA officials disclosed that the project’s cost had risen to $12.2 billion, more than double the initial estimate, with an expected opening in 2036, a decade behind schedule. Funding for the project comes from local tax measures and federal dollars promised in 2021, with no plans for additional financial measures.
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The six-mile, four-station extension aims to create a rail service circling the Bay Area, including an underground tunnel beneath downtown San Jose. The watchdog committee’s formation follows calls for increased transparency regarding the project’s costs and construction delays. Concerns have been raised about the rising soft costs, especially consultant fees, and the need to kickstart actual construction.
The cost increase can be attributed to various factors, with a substantial portion coming from rising construction material costs and a three-year project delay. Additionally, the machine responsible for tunneling beneath San Jose has contributed to a 26-month delay.
Transportation expert Yonah Freemark highlighted that American cities face unique challenges compared to counterparts in Europe and Asia when it comes to rail projects. He noted that greater concentrations of transportation expertise exist outside of the U.S., and this situation can create a cycle of increasing costs.
The BART extension’s program manager, Gary Griggs, acknowledged the speed at which other parts of the world undertake major transportation projects. He emphasized the need to find more efficient ways to complete such projects in the United States.