Construction on the BART Silicon Valley Phase II project has advanced as crews at the West Portal site near PayPal Park and the Santa Clara train station have dug a launch shaft for the tunnel boring machine. This effort focuses on creating a cut-and-cover ramp where trains will enter and exit the underground tunnel, built by excavating to the required depth and then constructing a steel and concrete structure before backfilling.
The tunnel will stretch five miles eastward to connect with the Berryessa BART station, running 80 feet below ground. Tunnel boring is set to begin in the first quarter of 2028 or 2029 and continue for three to three and a half years. Three new underground stations will serve riders along the route at Diridon, Downtown San Jose, and 28th Street in Little Portugal. A fourth above-ground station will be built in Santa Clara.
With a projected opening in 2037 (sorry, but wtf?), the extension promises to link San Jose more closely to the broader Bay Area network. Current estimates place the cost between $12.1 billion and $12.5 billion, reflecting the scale of this infrastructure investment. The arrival of BART underground will open doors to new opportunities, from quicker trips to Silicon Valley jobs to seamless connections to Downtown San Jose.
Source: SVBJ
