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In the works for two decades, the East San Jose Light Rail Extension aims to reduce traffic congestion and expand transit access to the densely populated eastern part of the city. With a major construction award, this project is a big step closer to reality.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority selected Sacramento, Calif.-based MCM Construction and New York City-based RailWorks Corp. to build the Eastern Light Rail Extension Project San Jose. Thursday the board of directors of VTA unanimously voted to award the contractworth $437 million, in the joint venture.
The widening is the final phase of the larger Capitol Expressway transit improvement project, which aims to transform the Capitol Expressway through the city into a multimodal route with bus and rail rapid transit light, according to the VTA.
The project involves extending light rail service from the Alum Rock Transit Center 2.4 miles to the Eastridge Transit Center, allowing VTA riders to connect directly to the Bay Rapid Transit System Area at the Milpitas station. It also includes an elevated guideway above the Capitol Expressway corridor and new stations at Story Road and Eastridge Transit Center.
The joint offer of $437 million from the JV came around $122 million above VTA estimates, according to the San Jose Spotlight, in large part due to differing estimates of potential inflation in building materials. The VTA board gave the go-ahead Thursday for the agency to cover most of the additional cost.
The overall project is now estimated to cost $653 million. This sum includes pedestrian and bus improvements in the area, as well as utility relocation and land acquisition work that has already been completed.
However, MCM Construction and RailWorks Corp. he pledged to cut a year off the project schedule. Work is expected to begin in April and be completed in 2028.
