Work proceeds on Silicon Valley BART tunnel, while VTA seeks ways to curb spiraling costs

VTA commenced construction on the BART expansion through Silicon Valley, which includes a 5-mile underground tunnel beneath downtown San Jose. Contractors have been working 22 hours a day since June 9 to prepare the launch structure for the tunnel boring machine. Despite this progress, VTA is looking for new contractors for tunnel boring due to disagreements over costs with the current contractor, Kiewit Shea Traylor. The VTA board will evaluate recommendations for new contractors at its meeting on June 26. Maguire stated that current pricing is nearly double the budget, prompting the search for alternatives.

The project is estimated to cost $12. 75 billion, with a $1 billion funding gap remaining after a $5. 1 billion federal grant. VTA has identified $400 million in savings through design changes. The agency aims to expedite construction while ensuring the launch structure remains usable regardless of the contractor.