BART San Jose Extension Faces Delays and Ballooning Costs

Nico Savidge reports on cost increases and schedule delays for the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s downtown San Jose extension project.

"Last year, [Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority] officials increased the extension’s estimated cost by $900 million and pushed back their timeline for completing it by as much as four years — from a $4.7 billion project finished in 2026 to a $5.6 billion one that could open in 2029 or 2030," says Savidge.

One issue is the single-bore design that will require a very wide tunnel to accommodate two trains. In addition, three underground stations will be 10 stories belowground and high-speed elevators are planned at two stations to transport riders to and from the platforms.

"Perhaps the biggest question, though, is whether BART and VTA will work together effectively, or if the extension’s extra layer of complexity — having one public transit agency build an extension that another will use — will further bog down the complex downtown project," notes Savidge.