Project Update
VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II (BSVII) Extension Project is accelerating through early construction activities, finalizing design, and continuing momentum toward major tunnel construction.
$100M Secured with Strong Showing of State Support 
In March, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) distributed $100 million to BSVII following its allocation in June 2025. The allocation means the funding can be used right away to support foundational tunnel infrastructure, including purchasing components. This marks a new milestone that puts the project on a solid path forward for a Full-Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) under the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts Funding Program.
Maintaining Momentum
Building on last year’s work to implement cost-saving approaches and single bore configuration determination, momentum on the project is picking up. VTA is advancing construction, aligning the project budget, identifying additional funding, and refining its contracting and construction strategies.
The tunnel launch structure, currently under construction, is on-time and on-budget. It is on track to be completed in March 2027. Additionally, VTA is putting into practice lessons learned from other megaprojects by optimizing contract packages in order to increase competition and reduce costs. Meanwhile, VTA is working with local, regional, and state partners to create a comprehensive funding plan to support a Full-Funding Grant Agreement while also finding ways to continue the momentum to advance critical path items with state and local funds.
Industry outreach and engagement is ongoing at major conferences and events, both nationally and internationally, to encourage participation in future procurements.
Employee Spotlight
In March, we celebrated Women in Construction Week by welcoming the Silicon Valley and San Francisco chapters of the National Association of Women in Construction for an exclusive tour of the BART Silicon Valley West Portal Launch Structure construction site and highlighting five women making their mark on the transformative project.
⭐ Samar S., a Field Engineer with Kiewit Shea Traylor Joint Venture (KSTJV), works in site services and logistics to ensure crews have safe access to their work areas. She also supports soil management, helping ensure excavated materials are properly tested, classified, and responsibly routed.
⭐ Rosebelle D., a Contracts Administrator with Bechtel, VTA’s Construction Management Services team,, brings years of construction administration experience. Today, she works closely with subcontractors to keep contracts organized and payments moving.
⭐ Cristina L., a Senior Field Engineer with Bechtel, , helps ensure the work aligns with design, safety, and quality standards. On this project, she works closely with contractors, designers, and safety teams to keep work on schedule and aligned with the plans.
⭐ Paola F., a Field Engineer with KSTJV, focuses on support of excavation. She inspects the steel rebar cages that reinforce the watertight concrete walls built below ground to create safe space for excavation.
⭐ Sabrina Y., a Field Engineer with KSTJV, began the project working on the construction of underground conduits. She has since pivoted to supporting the installation of the project’s electrical equipment.
As we celebrate Women in Construction Month, VTA is proud to recognize the expertise, leadership and dedication of women across all engineering teams on this project.
Thank you to the talented contractor team of Kiewit Shea Traylor Joint Venture (KSTJV), and construction management team Bechtel Corporation for their commitment and collaboration in helping deliver the next phase of transit infrastructure
BSVII In the Community
In early 2026, VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Team met with several interested community partners and industry groups for tours of the project alignment and West Portal construction Site.
Japanese Consulate Tour
On January 9, we hosted the Japanese Consulate for a full alignment tour. They brought along several contractors of interest with backgrounds in heavy civil underground construction, systems and track work.
SPUR’s Urban Infrastructure Committee
We hosted SPUR’s Urban Infrastructure Committee, made up of designers, engineers and transportation experts on January 15. They received a project update and walk-through of the West Portal site.
Senator Padilla and Representative Lofgren Staff Tour
On March 18, we welcomed staff from the offices of Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Zoe Lofgren. The group was given a walk-through of the West Portal construction site.
Federal Transportation Administration Tour
VTA leadership met with Jamie Pfister, Acting Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Deputy Administrator, and Amy Changchien, FTA Region 9 Deputy Regional Administrator on March 20 for a tour of the West Portal construction site. The visit provided an opportunity to highlight construction progress.
Construction Update
As we usher in the spring season, the Project continues its positive momentum with another significant milestone: completion of the underground wall structures, excluding the Caterpillar Shaft, that make deep excavation possible for the future Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) launch. This required 102 underground support wall panels and around 37,000 cubic yards of concrete, enough concrete to fill 11 Olympic swimming pools!
In February, our construction site saw the completion of sheet pile installation. The sheet piles were constructed to keep the excavation safe once the dirt was removed. You can view the video of the sheet pile installation here.
Additionally, our crews have been hard at work installing steel bracing to stabilize the underground support walls as excavation progresses deeper. Once the excavation and bracing is completed, concrete is poured into slabs to form the finished surface of the Launch Structure ramp. 
An elevator will arrive on site and be installed in order to take our crews to the deeper levels of the launch structure.
To see just how much progress the project has made, there are drone flyovers of our construction site taken monthly available for public viewing. Watch the videos here.
To receive the BSVII monthly construction updates, sign up here.
Read the recent construction updates from this year:
January Monthly Construction Update
In Case you missed it!
The people who make the project happen were featured in Silicon Valley Business Journal and the VTA.org blog. Check out their stories.
