Santa Clara VTA’s BART Phase II extension community collaboration

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is entering a more robust collaborative phase on one of the biggest transportation infrastructure project in county history, as work to bring Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) service and four new stations to Silicon Valley moves forward.

Over the next three months, VTA is working with Tunnel and Track contractor Kiewit Shea Traylor to explore and analyze innovations that could enhance the project and deliver this massive mass transit project in the most cost-effective way possible.

This three-month “innovation period” also provides an opportunity to review aspects of the current station designs and their connections to the tunnel. A task force of public and private transportation professionals was formed to identify potential station enhancements that could be supported as a result of some of the innovations being considered. A series of workshops will focus on specific aspects of station design. The goal of the workshops is to identify new ways to enhance access to the station entrances and their underground boarding platforms, and provide more direct connectivity for riders between other transit systems.

In addition, the workshops will address how to maximize the opportunity for high-density transit-oriented development, which could include housing, commercial and retail space near the stations.

“The innovations process can take an excellent project like BART Phase II to the next level, bringing added benefits to future passengers and the community,” said VTA General Manager/CEO Carolyn Gonot.

Public feedback on these ideas will be crucial for VTA to build a regional transit extension that fits the community, serves the community, and makes a positive impact on the environment. VTA will host summer outreach events along with tabling pop-ups.

Details on additional community engagement events will be released when they’re available.