Santa Clara VTA selected for first-of-its-kind federal funding pilot program
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has selected Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) as the first transit agency in the nation to begin discussions regarding a leading-edge federal funding pilot program.
FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams made the announcement during the afternoon session of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) 2019 Rail Conference June 24. Acting Administrator Williams said the administration is proceeding with plans to discuss SCVTA’s participation in FTA’s Expedited Project Delivery pilot program for SCVTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Project.
“This project is one that is very innovative and so we are very excited to move to the next level with VTA on that project,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.
SCVTA’s BART Phase II Project, which continues the heavy rail extension from North San Jose into Downtown and Santa Clara, was among seven projects across the country to vie for participation in the FTA’s new pilot program designed to fast track major transportation infrastructure projects. The Pilot Program for Expedited Project Delivery is authorized under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and is aimed at faster delivery of new transit capital projects that by law must utilize public-private partnerships, be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider and have a federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost.
SCVTA’s BART Phase II Project will employ cutting-edge single bore technology to construct the five-mile underground subway through downtown San Jose. SCVTA submitted a proposal in November 2018 to be considered for the expedited funding to assure the project can proceed as planned.
“VTA is demonstrating the merits of this transformational infrastructure project being the first in the nation to use single bore technology for transit, and now being the first in the nation chosen for FTA’s expedited project delivery program,” said Nuria Fernandez, VTA CEO and general manager.
SCVTA said it is excited to work with the FTA over the next year toward meeting the requirements for federal funding.
In January 2019, SCVTA awarded a $125-million general engineering contract to Mott McDonald/PGH Wong Engineering Joint Venture (MMW) for the BART Phase II Project.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
