By Robert Haugh
A significant step was taken last week towards finishing the BART Silicon Valley Extension to Santa Clara. But questions linger about the project’s ultimate completion.
The federal government awarded over $5 billions to the project – the largest single public infrastructure project in Santa Clara County.
However, there’s still a funding gap of about $1 billion.
The project’s road has been rocky, marked by delays and escalating costs. This trend shows no signs of stopping, with experts predicting annual cost increases of at least five percent.
VTA officials acknowledge the funding shortfall and hint at potential “rescoping” – scaling back parts of the project – to stay within budget.
In the past, VTA officials have proposed cutting the Santa Clara station and San Jose station in the Little Portugal neighborhood.
VTA staff at first would not make a firm commitment to the Mission City in 2021. But after a lot of public criticism, they did a year later.
BART’s overall financial challenges also complicate the Silicon Valley extension.
BART has had a significant decline in ridership since the pandemic, straining its operating budget.
The Silicon Valley project’s projected completion date is 2037.
Los Angeles transit , Chicago transit authority, Portland transit, Washington DC Metropolitan Transit Authority , Seattle , Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority and more. I will say that not all make money but they do break even and don’t have to squeeze us homeowners every year or two for an increase on our taxes.
Where are you getting your information from? I believe all of those systems are subsidized through taxpayer funding. None of them make enough in farebox recovery to cover operational expenses.
For example LA Metro has a farebox recovery rate well below twenty percent. Almost all of their funding comes from taxpayers.
Chicago has a good farebox recovery rate that is legally mandated but they also have an operating deficit of over 200 million dollars and that all is made up through public funding.
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority makes less than 10 percent of their funding and the rest comes from taxpayer funded sources.
There is no significant mass transit system in the entire country that pays for itself through passenger fares. And our roadways do not get paid for by gas taxes and require a lot of subsidization from taxpayer funded sources.
The VTA is considered the worst financial disaster in the United States. According to previous studies the VTA loses money and continues to extract more taxes from us homeowners. Other transit systems throughout the United States MAKE MONEY. It’s time to say NO MORE TAXES. If the VTA cannot survive on its own then it’s time to shut it down.
Stewart,
What transit systems in the United States make a profit?