VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project – Fall Newsletter

SAN JOSE, Cal. – This fall, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII) program reached major milestones including 100% excavation of the West Portal Launch Structure site, an injection of new regional funding and moving forward with a new contract model with its contractor.

Amended and Restated Agreement

VTA’s BSVII and Kiewit Shea Traylor (KST) executed an Amended and Restated (A&R) Agreement for Contract Package 2 (CP2), marking a significant milestone for the project and establishing a comprehensive framework for the next phase of work.

The A&R Agreement consolidates the project contract into a single document that reflects the status of CP2, which includes the tunnel scope. The agreement provides a clear contractual foundation for ongoing construction activities and supports continued progress on one of the Bay Area’s largest transportation infrastructure investments.

A key component of the agreement is the establishment of a target price for the work, providing great cost certainty while enabling critical construction activities to advance in a challenging heavy civil construction market. The agreement also incorporates efforts by both parties to identify cost-saving opportunities, helping maximize project value while maintaining schedule momentum.

The signing of the agreement follows months of coordination, planning and negotiations between KST and the BSVII program team. Representatives from both organizations gathered in August to recognize the achievement and the collaborative effort required to reach this milestone.

Project leaders noted that the agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing the project through a balanced approach that addresses market conditions while supporting continued delivery of critical infrastructure improvements.

With the A&R Agreement in place, and the next year of pre-tunneling construction authorized, project teams can focus on the next year of construction, including the safe and efficient preparation for tunneling pre-construction work and other key project components.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission Allocates First Tranche of Funding

BSVII also celebrated a major funding win with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approving an initial $192.5 million 

in funding for VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II project. 

The money is the first allocation of the $375 million grant from Regional Measure 3 awarded in 2018, which is a voter-approved bridge toll measure that helps pay for major transportation projects across the Bay Area.

This funding will pay for important work that needs to happen before crews can start digging the project’s tunnel, such as installing equipment to monitor ground conditions and keep the work safe.

California State Senator Dave Cortese, representing the majority of Santa Clara County and its residents, praised the decision in a press release.

“As a former Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, I know firsthand the importance of regional cooperation and keeping major transportation projects moving forward,” Cortese said. “Now is not the time to take our foot off the pedal. We must continue securing the funding and support needed to keep construction moving, protect this investment, and get BART to Downtown San José and Santa Clara. Our region has waited long enough.”