Efforts to extend Bay Area rapid transit service to Silicon Valley are moving forward with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) awarding a construction management services contract of $490.8 million to Bechtel Infrastructure Corp. and the beginning of the first works. VTA officials aim to begin construction and major tunneling for BART’s $12.7 billion Silicon Valley Phase II extension project next year.
The 6-mile extension would add four stations, three of which would have underground platforms. About 5.5 miles of the extension is planned to be tunnelled in what VTA says would be the first single-bore subway tunnel in the US. The scope of the project also includes the construction of a train storage and maintenance site, in addition to other related facilities.
To bore the tunnel with room for tracks, rigs and other equipment, VTA ordered a 54-foot-diameter tunnel boring machine from German manufacturer Herrenknecht last November. The transportation agency plans to launch the TBM at the west portal, near the Santa Clara end of the extension, and have it dig 30 to 40 feet per day. The $76 million TBM is scheduled to be delivered next year and the 24/7 tunnel construction is expected to take three to four years.
The project would build on the $2.3 billion, 10-mile Phase 1 completed in 2020 that added BART service to Berryessa/North San Jose. Phase II would extend this line with stops at 28th Street/Little Portugal, downtown San José, Diridon Station and Santa Clara.
“Our goal is to provide efficient and sustainable transit solutions that meet the needs of our growing communities,” Carolyn Gonot, VTA’s chief executive officer and CEO, said at a groundbreaking ceremony last month.
As construction manager, Bechtel will oversee four contract packages: systems; tunnel and track work; construction of Newhall Yard maintenance facilities, Santa Clara station and parking lot; and construction of the three metro stations. VTA previously selected a joint venture of Kiewit Infrastructure West, JF Shea Construction and Traylor Brothers for the first stage of the tunnel and track work.
Passenger service is scheduled to begin in 2037. VTA estimates that the Phase II extension will carry 54,600 weekday passengers by 2040.
Image courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Transportation AuthorityThe VTA board voted to approve the 10-year cost-plus-fixed-fee CM services contract with Bechtel in April. Bechtel was also part of the joint venture that designed and built the original BART system in the 1960s and oversaw work on Phase I of the Silicon Valley line.
“This latest rail extension will provide a fast and convenient transit alternative for major travel corridors,” Kelvin Sims, senior vice president of Bechtel Infrastructure Corp., said in a statement.
Bechtel has 15 subcontractors lined up, 11 of which are disadvantaged business firms, VTA records show. They have a 12% DBE target for the contract.
VTA anticipates more than $6 billion from the Federal Transit Administration to fund the work. Other funding is expected to come from various local, regional and state sources. Officials hope to execute a full funding grant agreement with FTA later this year.
