Phase II of the project is entering the implementation stage. It will extend the line west from Berryessa toward the San Francisco Peninsula. Plans include four additional stations: 28th Street/Little Portugal, Downtown San Jose, Diridon, and the terminus at Santa Clara.
“Phase II will be the largest single public infrastructure project ever to be constructed in Santa Clara County,” Laborin said. “It is estimated that this extension will carry 52,000 passengers to destinations throughout the Bay Area every day by 2035.”
About five miles of the second phase will be a large single bore tunnel, planned to minimize disruption to downtown San Jose during construction.
“Single bore differs from the traditional twin-bore method because station platforms are constructed within the tunnel rather than via cut-and-cover station boxes, and access to the platforms will be through off-street structures and mined connections to the tunnel,” Laborin said. “Using a large diameter single-bore tunnel for a project like this is an innovative approach.”
The proposed single bore tunnel will be among the largest in the U.S. for a transit project.
Also as part of a joint venture, WSP is currently providing program management and preliminary engineering services to the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) for Phase II. Currently four separate construction packages are being planned. All project delivery methods (design-build, progressive design-build) are being considered by the VTA.
Preliminary design efforts also include assisting the VTA with transit-oriented development (TOD) planning efforts at three of the proposed station areas. TOD plans include mixed-use development, multi-storied parking garages and opportunities for economic investment/advancement in each of the new station areas.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021, with completion targeted for 2028-30. Phase II was the first project to be accepted into the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) program. FTA will provide $1.25 billion funding for the project. The WSP JV team is assisting the VTA with navigating the EPD process.
When the 16.5-mile (Phase I & II) project is complete, BART will operate and maintain the system under an agreement executed with VTA, which owns the property, facilities and equipment related to the project.