VTA’s BSVII Project is a six-mile, four-station extension that will bring BART train service from the existing Berryessa/North San José through downtown San José to the City of Santa Clara. The BSVII Project includes an approximately five-mile tunnel which includes three underground stations (28th Street/Little Portugal, Downtown San José, and Diridon), one ground-level station (Santa Clara), as well as maintenance facilities.
- Includes a new maintenance and storage facility
- Four new BART stations
- 6-Mile extension from the existing Berryessa/North San José BART Station
- Includes approximately 5-miles of underground subway and one mile of ground level track
- First single bore tunneling transit project in the United States
BART System Map and Project Alignment Map
Use the slider tool to view the BSVII Project alignment map and how it connects to the overall BART and Caltrain system, which will “ring the Bay” with frequent rail service.
Future BART Stations
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28th Street/Little Portugal Station
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Downtown San José Station
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Diridon Station
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Santa Clara Station
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The 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station will be located between US 101 and 28th Street directly behind the Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish. The station will include a plaza, bike parking, and onsite vehicle parking. Surrounding the station will be a shared-use path along 28th Street and other improvements for people who walk and bike to and from the station. The station area will be integrated with surrounding mixed-use development creating a distinct transit-oriented community (TOC).
6,700 Riders by 2040
1,200 Onsite Parking
Bicycle Parking
Close to Future Rapid Bus Service
Potential Transit-Oriented Development
Connected to Future Five Wounds Trail
Station Plaza
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Downtown San José BART Station will be in the heart of Downtown José on Santa Clara Street with the station entrance between Market and 1st Streets. The station will support convenient connections to VTA light rail and bus service within walking distance from the station on Santa Clara, 1st, and 2nd Streets. The Downtown San José BART Station will be surrounded by future on-site development, helping achieve the vision for a Downtown transit-oriented community (TOC).
27,900 Riders by 2040
Entrance on Santa Clara Street
Bicycle Parking
Ticketing Gates at Street Level
Surrounded by on-site Transit-Oriented Development
Connected to VTA Bus/Light Rail
Walking Distance to Numerous Landmarks & Amenities
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The Diridon Station will be between Montgomery and Cahill Streets, on the south side of Santa Clara Street. Diridon BART station will provide pedestrian connections to the current Diridon Caltrain Station, VTA’s Diridon Light Rail Station, and future Diridon Intermodal Station. The station area will be integrated with surrounding mixed-use development creating a distinct transit-oriented community (TOC).
9,900 Riders by 2040
Bicycle Parking
Entrances on Cahill and Montgomery Streets
Ground Level Connection to Diridon Caltrain Station and Transit Center
Access from SAP Center, Downtown West, and Future Diridon Intermodal Station
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The Santa Clara BART station will be at ground level and adjacent to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. It will be the end of the line station for VTA’s BART Phase II Extension Project and offer vehicle parking, bicycle facilities, and easy transfers to Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, Altamont Corridor Express, and various VTA bus lines through a pedestrian undercrossing to the existing Santa Clara Caltrain Station and Transit Center.
10,100 Riders by 2040
500 Parking Space Garage above Yard Storage & Transfer Tracks
Bicycle Parking
Connect to the San José Mineta International Airport via VTA’s Route 60
Connection to Gateway Crossings, Santa Clara Caltrain Station, VTA buses, and rail
Walking distance to Santa Clara University & Paypal Park
Newhall Yard & Maintenance Facility
The Newhall Yard & Maintenance Facility allows for end-of-line maintenance and storage of BART vehicles. Without this Facility, BART trains would need to return to the East Bay at the end of service each day. The Facility includes maintenance and engineering offices and a yard control tower to monitor BART train traffic that spans approximately 40 acres. The property was the former Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) Newhall Yard, which VTA acquired in 2004. Located near the Santa Clara BART Station, the Facility will also provide on-site parking for employees, authorized visitors, and delivery/service vehicles.
West Portal and East Portal
The West Portal and East Portal are where the BART trains will enter and exit the underground tunnel. The West Portal, located northwest of I-880 by Newhall Street, serves as the launching point for the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to dig the five-mile tunnel. The West Portal is within the Newhall Yard Maintenance Facility adjacent to the Santa Clara Station. The East Portal is where the BART trains will connect to Berryessa Station, near US 101.
Tunnel Boring Machine
VTA's Official Tunnel Boring Machine Naming Competition
Join VTA in commemorating the spirit of innovation by submitting an entry to name the TBM that will bore the five-mile tunnel portion of the project! We invite you to submit your name for the official TBM naming contest, which will be open for six weeks starting Monday, March 18, 2024. All entries must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Take a look at the official contest flyer for more information!
A TBM will remove soil from the tunnel itself, keeping the street above intact. The TBM includes a cutter-head, which rotates to dig through soil and rock. The excavated material will then be removed through a conveyor system within the machine. TBM boring speeds vary greatly, depending on the size and length of the tunnel, the geological conditions, and many other factors. The following video demonstrates how TBMs work.
Tunnel construction will begin south of the Santa Clara Station within Newhall Yard, at the West Portal, and run underneath I-880 and the Caltrain tracks. From there, the tunnel will continue southeast crossing under the western side of the Caltrain tracks at Emory Street, continuing under Stockton Avenue then curving east before reaching Diridon Station. From Diridon Station, the tunnel will continue under Santa Clara Street for approximately one mile to the Downtown San José Station. From there, it will extend under Santa Clara Street, curving northeast near 27th Street to the 28th Street/Little Portugal Station. From there, the tunnel will continue northeast under US 101 to McKee Road where it will run parallel to US 101 until it surfaces at the East Portal, near Las Plumas Avenue and Marburg Way.