The money from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will enable construction to start next month on the US$2.3bn extension into Santa Clara County. The contract was awarded in December to a joint venture of Skanska, Shimmick and Herzog.
According to BART, the project will create more than 1,600 construction-related jobs.
“President Obama called on us to rebuild America by putting people back to work on transportation projects that are built to last, like the BART system,” said LaHood. “BART will one day connect Bay Area residents with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and the jobs they create, while reducing congestion on area highways for everyone. All across America, we have critical transportation work that needs to be done and Americans who are ready to do the work.”
The Silicon Valley Berryessa extension project, expected to break ground in April, will extend BART by 16km and include construction of two new stations.
“The residents and entrepreneurs of South Bay understand that transit is a way to relieve congestion between Alameda and Santa Clara counties and provide commuters with a real alternative to ever-erratic gas prices,” said FTA Deputy Administrator McMillan. “This project is also spurring millions of dollars’ worth of new construction for housing, office space, and hotels; all located just minutes away from the BART line extension.”
FTA is committed to providing for 38.6% of the US$2.3bn. The balance is financed with US$1.4 billion in funds from the State of California's traffic congestion relief programme and local sales taxes approved by Santa Clara voters.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
