Current plan expects 111,000 daily riders. Enough ?


Published Friday, December 9, 2005, by the VTA

Press Release Number: nr12-06

VTA to ask FTA to temporarily withdraw BART extension from New
Starts process

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) General
Manager Michael Burns announced today that VTA is asking the FTA
to temporarily withdraw the BART to Silicon Valley Project from
preliminary engineering in the federal New Starts process.

In September, VTA submitted a report on the BART to Silicon Valley
project to the FTA for the Annual New Starts Update, which will be
released in February 2006. While the most recent information on the
project shows higher ridership than earlier anticipated, this has
driven up the project's costs. VTA is anticipating that it's New
Starts submittal is not likely to be accepted by FTA in its current
form, and is therefore, electing to withdraw the project from the
federal process to allow more time to address those issues. VTA has
succeeded in improving the cost effectiveness rating by nearly 25
percent, but believes it could further improve this measurement.
This would allow the project to be even more competitive nationally.

"As the lead proponent for this project on Capitol Hill, I support
VTA's decision to withdraw the project because it allows the agency
additional time to bring the project into conformity with FTA
requirements for New Starts projects," Congressman Mike Honda (D-San
José) said. "We all appreciate the highly competitive nature of the
New Starts Program, and VTA's action today signals our region's
commitment to putting forward a project that meets all federal
requirements, competes well against other projects, and merits full
and unreserved federal partnership."

VTA staff will continue to move forward with preliminary
engineering, environmental and planning work using local funding
and will work closely with the FTA to resolve issues related to
the project's cost, ridership estimates and financial plan.

Burns stated, "The majority of New Starts funding is awarded for
Final Design and Construction. By using local funding for the
Preliminary Engineering and Environmental work we can focus our
efforts on securing federal funds during the Final Design phase.
This action will allow us to improve the project's ability to
compete for funding in the next phase."

"The BART to Silicon Valley project remains a critical link in the
Bay Area's transportation infrastructure," said VTA Board Chair
Joe Pirzynski. "Left unaddressed, population and job growth will
cause traffic congestion that could have significant economic and
quality-of-life impacts for the region."

The BART project is a major long-term effort. The current financial
plan for the project anticipates an initial infusion of New Starts
funding beginning in 2008. In the interim, VTA will work
cooperatively with the FTA to move the project forward in the
federal funding process.

About BART to Silicon Valley

VTA is progressing the design of a 16.3 mile extension of the Bay
Area Rapid Transit system from just south of the future BART Warm
Springs Station in Fremont to the cities of Milipitas, San Jose and
Santa Clara. The alignment would include seven stations, plus one
future station, and a maintenance and vehicle storage yard in San
Jose/Santa Clara. BART's average weekday boardings are currently
345,000. The new extension is expected to add 111,500 average
weekday boardings by 2030.

About VTA

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent
special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit
operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement
projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is
both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation
planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways,
bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service
at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to
http://www.vta.org